World AIDS Day: INSTI Breaks Guinness World Record for HIV Testing
London UK & Rosario, Argentina – Dec. 1, 2012. Two Guinness World Records were broken this World AIDS Day, when 56 Dean St, London UK and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation in Argentina shattered the record for number of HIV tests preformed in 8 hours, a feat made possible using bioLyticals INSTI 60-second HIV Antibody Test.
745 HIV tests were performed by the non-profit group 56 Dean St. at G-A-Y bar, London, whose event was endorsed by UK Prime Minister David Cameron himself. People need to know that, diagnosed early, the outlook for most people with HIV in the UK today is a good one, the head of state wrote, Above all, people need to know that it has never been quicker or simpler to get tested. 56 Dean St. broke their own record for 467 HIV tests performed the previous year.
There is no other test on the market that can give a test result as quickly as INSTI, noted Chris Shackleton, executive director of bioLytical. While other rapid tests can deliver results in 20 minutes and laboratory-based tests can take days or weeks to return a diagnosis — INSTI is the only one-minute rapid HIV test and thus perfectly suited to events of this magnitude. The UK attempt was covered extensively in the UK press and picked up by The Province in British Columbia, who noted the international attention put Richmond on the map for its locally-developed and manufactured state-of-the-art medical device.
The AIDS Healthcare Foundation is the largest international AIDS organization and early adopters of the INSTI test. In Rosario, Argentina, AHF volunteers performed a staggering 3,733 free HIV tests in recognition of World AIDS Day. “The Guinness World Record for HIV Testing has been claimed by Rosario this year, but this may provide the basis for healthy competition among other countries and cities to achieve even higher records, Dr. Patricia Campos, AHFs Bureau Chief for Latin America, said. Campos added that, to ensure AHF and its allies are able to provide continuous testing opportunities even after World AIDS Day, AHF has shipped 20,000 INSTI tests to Latin America from Mexico, 10,000 of which are for Argentina and 10,000 for Peru.
bioLytical were thrilled to participate in the World AIDS Day testing events, which showcased INSTIs unique speed in such a dramatic and useful way. We know that testing is the critical first step in curbing the spread of HIV/AIDS, yet many people still do not know their status, said Shackleton. We hope that events such as these large-scale world record attempts serve to demonstrate how fast and simple testing can be. It also speaks to the great passion of our partners in the UK and AHF Worldwide that such outreach efforts are so well-received and the message of status awareness so effectively and compassionately delivered.
With U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), calling for routine HIV testing for all people ages 15 to 65 this past November and similar recommendations in British Columbia for all sexually active adults to get tested, bioLytical look forward to facilitating testing initiatives in all settings, from clinical to emergency room to corrections facilities to the field to further mass-testing events in Canada, the US and worldwide.
About bioLytical Laboratories
bioLytical Laboratories is a leading developer and manufacturer of rapid, point of care diagnostic assays. bioLytical is a privately owned, federally incorporated Canadian company based in Vancouver, British Colombia with offices in Chicago and the exclusive manufacturer of the INSTI(TM) HIV Rapid Test kit.
For more information: call 1-866-674-6784 or visit www.biolytical.com
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