Scientists devise breath test for HIV drug adherence

US scientists have announced the development of a breath monitoring device to monitor drug adherence in HIV patients.

A team at the University of Florida monitors how dedicated people infected with the disease are with their medication.

The scientists say that patients who take some, but not all, of their medication increases the likelihood the virus will mutate into a drug-resistant form of the disease.

Results from each breath test are recorded on the device, allowing patients to take a memory card or USB key to their physician for a printout of their results.

Professor Richard Melker from the university said: "The machine sits in your home and when it's time for you to take your medication, it makes a beeping noise. If you don't hit a button after about five minutes, it's going to beep louder and louder until you come."

The device is currently under phase two trials being conducted in the community, rather than at a research institution.

Professor Melker added that if the patient did not respond to the machine, it would call the clinical trial co-ordinator to indicate the patient did not take the medication as prescribed.

International Aids charity Avert estimates that 33.2 million people worldwide are infected with HIV, with 2.1 million deaths from the disease in 2007.