AltraTech advance Point-of-Care Viral Load Testing
Cork, Ireland. Altratech is pleased to announce that it has received a grant from the Gates Foundation to utilise its platform technology, to deliver an affordable, easy-to-use, point-of-care quantitative HIV viral load test suitable for low – and middle – income countries. This will enable high-quality diagnostic testing outside of hospital settings, supporting delivery in community clinics and, ultimately, at the point-of-need. The Gates Foundation grant focuses on the delivery of a portable, accessible, and user-friendly diagnostic solution, combining Altratech’s proprietary peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probe chemistry with its proprietary CMOS semiconductor sensor technology.
As part of the grant objective, Altratech will validate its product prototype using HIV patient plasma samples. Altratech’s platform technology integrates proprietary PNA probes, a bead-based assay, and a low-cost CMOS sensor chip, It currently has a demonstrated detection limit of 1,000 copies/mL, in line with World Health Organization guidelines for HIV viral load monitoring.
Next steps are for the Company to extend performance to testing from whole blood and a target detection limit of 200 copies/mL from a 150 µL sample volume (to be achieved by Q2 2026), this is the element of development funded by the Gates Foundation. By enabling earlier detection and improved viral load monitoring, the technology has the potential to support both diagnostic and preventative strategies, helping to reduce HIV transmission and improve treatment outcomes.
A subsequent development phase, planned for 2026–2027, will focus on miniaturising the system into a low-cost cartridge and reader format, aligned with the WHO “REASSURED” criteria for accessible diagnostics. While the initial focus is HIV viral load testing, the platform is being designed with adaptability in mind, supporting future expansion to additional infectious disease and biomarker monitoring applications.
Dr Tara Dalton, CEO of Altratech, said: “This grant allows us to focus on what matters most at this stage — robust biology, meaningful performance, and a clear pathway to accessibility. By taking a fundamentals-first approach, we are building a platform capable of delivering reliable, quantitative diagnostics in settings where traditional laboratory infrastructure is not available.”