RE: Snippets21 Feb 2021 11:17
Hi Tonic
RE: CD4 (CHAI) – “7-10 countries are expected to have initiated roll out plans for the test by the financial year-end i.e, March”
You may well have seen this ......up to 500,000 units per country initially, applications open to up to 130 low income country's and the deadline for application is 3th September 21
"How will Unitaid go about introducing the new rapid
CD4 tests?
We aim to kickstart the creation of a market for affordable
tests by funding up to 500,000 tests for each country that
meets the selection criteria. Unitaid, CHAI and Omega
Diagnostics, which at the moment is the only company to
make a disposable test, have agreed a price deal to help
deliver CD4 tests at US$3.98 in more than 130 low-and
middle-income countries. This would be the lowest price for
such a test anywhere in the world. By comparison other
tests cost from US$5.50 to US$9.0. In order to accelerate
introduction of the new diagnostic, Unitaid has set up an
Early Market Access Vehicle, to be managed by CHAI, to
facilitate market introduction and establish a body of
evidence for the product’s use which can help countries
plan how to scale up point-of-care use of the device in
decentralized facilities.
Beginning on 28 April, CHAI and Unitaid have been
accepting Expressions of Interest and admitting selected
partners on a rolling basis until September 30, 2021 – or
when maximum volume commitment of 500,000 tests is
delivered (hyperlink to CHAI website). Selected
implementing partners can qualify for Unitaid-funded
procurement of the testing device.
Which countries are most likely to be early adopters of
the test?
Malawi, Nigeria and Uganda are among potential first
movers and we hope that if the rapid tests are successfully
introduced, governments will then scale up their use with
support from funding partners such as the Global Fund and
PEPFAR. "
https://unitaid.org/assets/New-rapid-CD4-test-could-be-game-changer-for-people-with-advanced-HIV-disease.pdf