Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation

Molecular detection of respiratory viruses from breath samples: Evaluation of nucleic acid extraction systems and PCR panels

Background Reliable and scalable molecular testing is essential for risk assessment and monitoring of respiratory viruses with epidemic or pandemic potential. The AveloMask Kit (Avelo) is a non-invasive sampling device that collects exhaled breath aerosols (XBA) using a high-perf...

Exhaled breath aerosol sampling for detection of pulmonary tuberculosis in adults: a study protocol for an exploratory diagnostic accuracy study

Introduction Tuberculosis remains a major global health challenge, causing over one million deaths annually. Current diagnostic techniques depend on restrictive sputum sampling. Better sampling methods are needed to enable early detection and effective management. This study intr...

Health beliefs and health seeking behaviour among families of children with a respiratory illness in Cape Town, South Africa: lessons learnt from the COVID-19 pandemic

Globally, acute respiratory infections(ARIs)are one of the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in children and the most common causes of visits of children to health facilities. Pandemics can unintentionally negatively impact on health beliefs and health-seeking behaviour,...