bioMérieux Innovates Further in the Fight against AIDSThe company Launches a Rapid Test, VIKIA® HIV 1 / 2

The VIKIA® HIV 1 / 2 test device is a CE-marked rapid test, based on the immunochromatography technique for the detection of antibodies to Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) 1 and 2 in human serum, plasma or whole and capillary blood. VIKIA® HIV 1 / 2 is a rapid 3rd generation test with high sensitivity and specificity. It is user-friendly and requires no specific training. Its original design and robust format means that it can be used by medical staff in all test and laboratory situations: from patient bedside and remote areas to emergency and routine laboratories. Results are obtained within a maximum of 30 minutes.

“VIKIA® HIV 1 / 2 is a new important solution for patients and healthcare professionals, fighting HIV, a devastating disease. By providing a rapid manual test, bioMérieux reinforces its product offering for one of its strategic disease. It will also help grow our immunoassay franchise, both in developed and developing countries” stated Stéphane Bancel, bioMérieux Chief Executive Officer.

For over 20 years, bioMérieux has been involved in the fight against AIDS, and today offers one of the widest ranges of diagnostic tests available. VIKIA® HIV 1 / 2 completes bioMérieux’s unique range of tests for early diagnosis and monitoring of HIV infection, which covers 3rd , 4th, and 4th advanced generation tests in a variety of formats such as immunoassays for screening and diagnosis with VIDAS®, microplates with DA VINCI® and molecular biology for viral load monitoring with NucliSENS EasyQ®.

VIKIA® HIV 1 / 2 will be available on a worldwide level, except in North America and according to local regulations.

About HIV
Since the epidemic began in the early 1980s, the number of persons living with HIV has increased in a manner that is both alarming and very uneven. In 2006, over 39.5 million people were living with HIV. Around 25 million of them were living in sub-Saharan Africa and 8 million in South and South East Asia. An estimated 4.3 million people were newly infected in 2006, the equivalent of 11,800 each day, more than 8 every minute. AIDS is the leading cause of death among the 15-59 age group worldwide. Nearly 80% of the 3 million AIDSrelated deaths in 2006 occurred in sub-Saharan Africa, which remains the global epicenter of the AIDS pandemic.
(Source: 2006 Report on the Global Aids Epidemic, UNAIDS)