Here at Continuum, we are in the business of improving lives. Whether designing a product, enhancing a service, or researching new ideas, people are always at the center of what we do.
When Daktari Diagnostics approached Continuum with an idea surrounding the design of a new way to perform a CD4 test, we saw an opportunity to improve the lives of those living in sub-Saharan Africa.
The CD4 blood count test is crucial when determining the stage of an HIV infection. Each year, hundreds of thousands of lives are lost in Africa due to HIV and AIDS. A high risk of infection is coupled with minimal effective treatment options.
Daktari had an idea to embed the CD4 test process into a single disposable cartridge that could be analyzed in a matter of minutes. Not only would the device be robust, but the test time would be significantly shorter than current test procedure in Africa.
Together with Daktari, Continuum utilized its knowledge of healthcare, product, and human-centered design to create the “Daktari CD4,” a product that is easy to use, small enough to fit inside a backpack, and able to save lives.
Recently, the Daktari CD4 was accepted into the Prequalification of Diagnostics Programme within the World Health Organization (WHO). The goal of the WHO Prequalification of Diagnostics Programme is to promote access to safe, inexpensive, and high quality medical devices that address some of the most critical global diseases.
We are proud to see the growing success of a project aimed at doing what we try to do every day: improve lives.
Image by jasleen_kaur / License by S.A. 2.0.
