Grand Challenges: Enhancing HIV and TB Diagnosis: Adjunct Technologies for Sample Collection and Processing

Background

Effective diagnostics are the cornerstone of disease management for tuberculosis (TB) and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), two of the world’s most significant infectious diseases. Early and accurate detection is critical for timely treatment initiation, reducing transmission, and improving patient outcomes.

The Challenge

Recent improvements in diagnostic testing have enabled molecular and lateral flow testing to be performed closer to the patient than ever and in some cases at home with a fully consumable test format. The challenge lies in developing solutions upstream to testing that enable easier, more affordable, and self-administered sample collection, sample preparation, and lysis when needed to support innovative PoC tests with faster turnaround times.

Specifically, the objectives of this challenge will be to address one, or all, of the following:

• Self-Sample Blood Collection Devices (Phlebotomist-free blood collection)
• Sample Collection for MTB
• Sample Preparation Devices (Instrument-free sample processing) for HIV detection
• Sample Lysis Devices (Instrument-free lysis) for TB lysis
• Sample Clean up and Analyte Concentration

Evaluation Criteria:

• Feasibility and innovation in meeting collection, processing, and/or lysis requirements.
• Cost-effectiveness and scalability.
• Analytical performance and validation data as per published guidelines.
• Alignment with decentralized or PoC needs as per published guidelines.
• Product shelf life at ambient temperature, and transportation stability in target LMIC countries as suggested by Global Fund Priority Country List.

Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Eligibility

_ You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website.