On the occasion of the World Tuberculosis Day, Partec supports patient programmes in Zimabwe

HARARE, ZIMBABWE – The World Tuberculosis Day on the 24th March of every year is a day of unified commemoration of the global effort to provide effective control of tuberculosis around the world. On the occasion of this year’s World Tuberculosis Day, German biotechnology company PARTEC, worldwide leading in diagnostic solutions for HIV/AIDS, Malaria and TB patients, is donating to the Ministry of Health in Harare ten fluorescence and transmitted light microscopes, ideally suited for highly sensitive TB diagnosis as well as 12.000 patient tests.
 
Tuberculosis – caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and spread between humans by droplet infection – is endemic with approximately 14 million prevalent cases in 2009. Considering 2 - 3 million death cases annually, Tuberculosis therefore is one of the most dangerous diseases worldwide. TB is an airborne infectious disease that is preventable and curable. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 9.4 million people have been newly infected by Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 2009. Tuberculosis is also a major cause of death among people living with HIV/AIDS.
 
A safe, easy, and in particular very sensitive test is of great importance for tuberculosis diagnosis. New innovative and affordable solutions play the key role for significantly improved patient services in tuberculosis prevention and treatment.
 
The portable and battery-operated Partec CyScope® TB fluroescence microscopes in combination with the CyStain® TB test kits are offering a uniquely cost-efficient, sensitive and reliable method for tuberculosis diagnostics. The solution donated today to the Ministry of Health in Zimbabwe opens the chance to bring tuberculosis diagnosis also to remote areas and such places, which suffer from a low level of laboratory infrastructure and limited or unregular electricity supply.
 
The Partec CyScope technology has been developed and produced in Germany following the long German tradition in manufacturing highest quality techniques in optics and microscopy.
 
The Partec Essential Healthcare division offers the complete package of diagnostic solutions for TB, Malaria and HIV/AIDS patient immune status monitoring, specifically designed to meet the requirements of resource-constrained countries and regions with limited infrastructure.