Objectives: Objectives: Describe a strategy for increasing diagnostic capabilities and eliminating disparities in health outcomes attributed to lack of diagnostic support in populations with limited access to healthcare facilities. Abstract Text. Emerging and reemerging diseases have caused major healthcare burdens on public health systems worldwide. Many diseases, especially malaria and HIV, are rapidly increasing in areas with limited diagnostic infrastructure. Electricity, equipment, and technical expertise to perform sophisticated diagnostic tests is often lacking and on-site clinician support is rare. One strategy that may be used to respond to the challenge of providing healthcare to underserved populations is through integration of newly developed rapid diagnostic tests. These rapid tests can yield results on-site within ten to fifteen minutes and do not require equipment, supplies or electricity. They are easy to read as results are visually interpreted. We performed numerous evaluations of rapid diagnostic tests in underserved populations throughout the Americas. Our results have been extremely positive, averaging 90-100% sensitivity and specificity when compared to in-country test results. Importantly, we were able to diagnose malaria an average of 5-6 hrs before local microscopists in the Amazon region; we were able to detect a major outbreak of dengue fever in Guyana that would have gone undiagnosed, and we identified an alarming increase in the prevalence of HIV and syphilis in a large underserved jungle community. The inclusion of these tests in healthcare programs could improve disease surveillance and increase disease detection to allow earlier public health interventions and more effective disease management efforts.
Learning Objectives: to discuss the advantages of applying new technology in diagnostic medicine to underserved populations to facilitate better disease management programs
Keywords: Underserved Populations, Disease Management
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Flow Inc.
PanBio Inc.
Abbott Laboratories
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.