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Laboratory Strengthening in Asia Pacific region

One of the major hurdles in managing the HIV epidemic in developing countries is the lack of co-ordination between the different arms of the health systems. Drugs to treat HIV infection have become more readily available.

Doctors need to be able to determine who receives ART, when ART should begin, and whether ART is working. The only way to do this is by laboratory tests. The tests to monitor HIV infection are new and more sophisticated than many of the laboratories are used to performing.

Laboratories are not often able to make the jump from routine acute care tests to specialised HIV monitoring tests or to expand their services. These tests often require highly specialised equipment and well-trained scientists to perform the testing, yet there is virtually no guidance for these laboratories in how to begin to setup of these tests.

Working with HIV+ blood carries risks and laboratory staff need to be trained on safety precautions.

Burnet can provide expert staff to strengthen laboratories in developing countries and improve co-ordination between the laboratory and the clinic. Burnet can teach laboratories in developing countries how to perform critically needed HIV monitoring tests and get reliable results. This will allow access to ART of HIV+ people and save lives of HIV + people living in these countries.

The Crowe Laboratory has 17 years of experience providing a service for laboratory monitoring of HIV infection in Australia and providing assistance and training to strengthen laboratories in resource constrained countries particularly in the Asia Pacific region.

The iCRL has trained laboratories in India, China, Fiji, PNG, Indonesia, Malaysia and eastern Europe. The head of iCRL, Professor Suzanne Crowe AM, is a member of WHO working groups that promote drug treatment for HIV in developing countries. She has led the iCRL to strengthen laboratories and transfer technologies for monitoring HIV infection in developing countries. Suzanne was awarded an AM (member of the Order of Australia) in 2011 for her service in this area.

Professor Suzanne Crowe AM

Contact Professor Suzanne Crowe AM for more information about the project

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