An international research team is developing a method to dramatically simplify and speed HIV testing: instead of sending blood samples to a lab for traditional tests and waiting days for results, a small patch could soon suffice to detect an HIV infection without special expertise. Unlike existing HIV rapid tests, everything would operate automatically, removing the risk of user errors that could skew the result. The EU-funded FORTIFIEDx is coordinated by KU Leuven in Leuven, Belgium.
The patch, about the size of a Post-It note, would be applied to the upper arm. Fine microneedles pierce the skin’s outer layer upon application, without causing pain, drawing a tiny amount of blood. The blood is automatically guided through microchannels, processed there, and analyzed directly in the patch with the help of printed electronics. Within roughly 15 to 20 minutes, the test yields a simple “Positive” or “Negative” result.
Diseases such as Ebola or Lassa fever are also to be detectable
No laboratory or specially trained personnel are required, which is advantageous: this makes the test appealing for regions with poor infrastructure, crisis zones and mobile health deployments. The project’s goal is to develop a new generation of portable diagnostic tests capable of detecting multiple infections at once—besides HIV and syphilis, also severe viral diseases such as Ebola and Lassa.
With current standard tests, there are several days between blood draw, lab analysis, and returning the results to patients. In addition, the barrier to undergoing such a test is higher. The delay can lead to infections being detected and treated late. The new technology is meant to close exactly this gap. For example, with an HIV-positive result, antiretroviral therapy can be started faster. These therapies reduce viral load and improve health not only to prevent organ damage during the asymptomatic phase but also to virtually eliminate the risk of transmitting to others.
Anja Haase, project lead from the Austrian research institution Joanneum Research, explained that the patches can be produced in large quantities at a low unit price. Speaking to Futurezone, she stressed that tests are planned for Africa, where diseases like Ebola are currently circulating. This could also become important for Europe: “The project is funded by the EU because some of these diseases, which generally occur more in the Global South, could potentially move northward due to climate warming, and you want to be well prepared.”
The FORTIFIEDx project runs until 2027 and is driven by a consortium of universities, research institutions and companies from several EU countries. Currently, tests are still in the development and validation phase. Mass production of the patches and initial clinical trials are still to come. The plan is to deploy the technology where it is most needed—in regions without stable lab infrastructure and in health centers that must make fast decisions.
