The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that more than 50,000 new infections of HIV occur every year. More than 1.2 million Americans are currently infected with HIV and over 250,000 of them are not aware that they are infected.
Changing lifestyles and lack of awareness about the modes of transmission of the virus are the major factors that result in a global increase of the number of people prone to HIV infection. Moreover, there are many complex social and economic factors such as poverty and lack of education that fuel the transmission of the HIV virus in Africa and Asia.
Globally, the prevalence of HIV infection is increasing. The table below reflects the top 10 countries with the highest number of HIV-infected population as of 2012:
| Country | HIV-Infected Population |
|---|---|
| South Africa | 5,600,000 |
| Nigeria | 3,300,000 |
| India | 2,400,000 |
| Kenya | 1,500,000 |
| Mozambique | 1,400,000 |
| Tanzania | 1,400,000 |
| Uganda | 1,200,000 |
| United States | 1,200,000 |
| Zimbabwe | 1,200,000 |
| Russia | 980,000 |
In response to rising instances of HIV/AIDS, various governments across the globe are investing heavily in their healthcare infrastructure to improve HIV/AIDS prediction and prevention. This investment is being made to improve the quality of the Healthcare sector by building new facilities or upgrading existing ones. Certain governments even fund healthcare institutions by offering loans and subsidies for the purchase of upgraded equipment.
In addition, the availability of health insurance plays a vital role in this sector as it enables patients to opt for better treatment procedures.
On the whole, the increased investment in the Healthcare sector is likely to improve the quality of healthcare and create high demand for HIV/AIDS testing kits, which is contributing to the growth of the Global HIV/AIDS Testing Market at a CAGR of 5.43 percent for the 2013-2018 period.
Currently, there are three main types of HIV tests:
Antibody Tests
HIV has many distinctive proteins on its surface and inside the virus. When a person is infected with HIV, the body produces antibodies to neutralize the virus. HIV antibody tests are most commonly used HIV tests. They are usually done on a blood sample, often using an ELISA or EIA. Results for these tests can take up to two weeks. There are some rapid HIV testing kits on the market that can be used in hospitals or other point-of-care settings. Rapid HIV antibody tests use blood, oral fluid, or urine to detect HIV antibodies. Results for these tests can take 10-20 minutes.
Antigen Tests
Antigen tests can be used to diagnose the HIV infection earlier from one to three weeks after the person is first infected with HIV. They are done on a blood sample and are also used for screening blood for transfusion. The test measures the level of p24 antigen in the blood. These tests are more expensive than antibody tests, so are not widely available.
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) Tests
PCR tests identify the genetic material of HIV and can detect HIV in the blood within two to three weeks of infection. HIV RNA is different from all human RNA and so it has been possible to develop tests to identify HIV RNA in a person’s blood. HIV RNA tests are mainly used to monitor progression in people already diagnosed with HIV and provide information about viral loads. These tests are essential for newborn screening of HIV-positive mothers as maternal antibodies may cross the placenta and be present in the newborn, which will lead to a positive antibody test even though the infant has not been infected with the virus. These tests may also be helpful in identifying HIV infection in the first four weeks after exposure. Blood supply banks in most developed countries are screened for HIV using PCR tests.
While these tests are extremely effective in identifying the HIV/AIDS virus, they all still have the same downsides: time and money. Thanks to the increase in government spending, many vendors are in the process of developing new tests that aim to improve upon current testing methods.
Increasing Adoption of Rapid HIV Tests
Vendors in the Global HIV/AIDS Testing market have been working on developing a new product that can give quick and accurate results. This has led to the introduction of rapid testing kits in the market. The rapid testing kit is based on the same technology as ELISA (the AIDS test performed in laboratories), but instead of sending the sample to a laboratory to be analyzed, the rapid testing kit can produce results within 20 minutes. Moreover, the tests do not require any specialized equipment and are also less complicated. With such products, a person can now perform the HIV/AIDS test in private at home.
Availability of Low-cost Testing Kits
The HIV/AIDS test is a relatively low-cost test. The availability of economically priced screening and monitoring test kits allows more people to have these tests, which can prevent future complications that can result from late detection of the disease. Low-cost HIV/AIDS testing kits are well accepted even by the low-income population. Moreover, the low cost of these tests makes it easy to conduct them on a regular basis. These tests are becoming increasingly popular in developing countries such as South Africa, India, and Sudan.
