Diagnostics for the developing world

Although 'diseases of affluence', such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease, are increasing in developing countries, infectious diseases still impose the greatest health burden. Annually, just under 1 million people die from malaria, 4.3 million from acute respiratory infections, 2.9 million from enteric infections and 5 million from AIDS and tuberculosis. Other sexually transmitted infections and tropical parasitic infections are responsible for hundreds of thousands of deaths and an enormous burden of morbidity. More than 95% of these deaths occur in developing countries. Simple, accurate and stable diagnostic tests are essential to combat these diseases, but are usually unavailable or inaccessible to those who need them.