Cepheid Lowers Pricing for Multiple Xpert®-Family Virology Tests for Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Cepheid Lowers Pricing for Multiple Xpert®-Family Virology Tests for Low- and Middle-Income Countries On 23 July 2018, Cepheid announced a new pricing agreement which lowers the prices of tests for multiple conditions on its virology menu for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs)[1]. This major step in advancing integration in molecular diagnostics will see the price of Xpert® tests used for diagnosis of HIV, hepatitis C virus (HCV) and human papilloma virus (HPV) lowered to US $14.90, making the tests more accessible to lower-income countries, where the need is greatest. Decentralized models of care to diagnose these infections and confirm a cure within community healthcare settings are critical to achieve global goals such as the UNAIDS Fast Track targets[2], HCV elimination by 2030[3], and efforts towards the eradication of HPV infection through universal specific vaccination[4].

‘ASLM is excited that this new pricing agreement will benefit almost every country on the continent given the large footprint of the Cepheid gene Xpert® platforms that are used in many settings, thanks to investments by governments and donors such as US PEPFAR, the Global Fund and Unitaid,’ said ASLM Project Director, Nqobile Ndlovu. ‘With the addition of other tests to the initial tuberculosis testing on these platforms, we are continually increasing testing capacity and their utilization.’.

Read Cepheid’s press release here.

Author: Anafi Mataka

Editor: Mrs Bethanie Rammer

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[1] Cepheid, 2018. Press Release. http://cepheid.com/us/about-us/news-events/press-releases/318-cepheid-announces-expanded-access-to-xpert-family-of-virology-tests-in-global-regions-with-the-greatest-need

[2] UNAIDS, 2017. 90-90-90: Treatment for all.  http://www.unaids.org/en/resources/909090

[3] WHO, 2016. Combating hepatitis B and C to reach elimination by 2030 http://www.who.int/hepatitis/publications/hep-elimination-by-2030-brief/en/

[4] WHO. Human papillomavirus (HPV). http://www.who.int/immunization/diseases/hpv/en/

About ASLM

Established in 2011, the African Society for Laboratory Medicine (ASLM) is a pan-African professional body focused on improving healthcare by strengthening all aspects of laboratories including workforce strengthening, quality improvement and accreditation, harmonization of regulations, strengthening of networks, and strengthening advocacy and communications. Laboratory testing is pivotal for disease diagnosis, epidemiological surveillance, outbreak investigation, and initiation and monitoring of treatment, as well as research and development. ASLM addresses these challenges by working collaboratively with governments; national, regional and international organizations; implementing partners, the private sector and other agencies to achieve its Strategic Vision goals. ASLM is endorsed by the African Union with support from the World Health Organization, Africa CDC, the United States (US) Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, the World Bank, the Clinton Foundation, UNAIDS, and others.