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Hope for hiv-exposed babies as Uganda receives 100 new rapid testing machines from Abbott. By Ben Musanje Global healthcare company Abbott has handed over 100 mPIMA point-of-care testing instruments to Uganda's Ministry of Health, kicking off a nationwide rollout that will see an additional 500 machines deployed to health facilities across the country. The first consignment was handed over Wednesday at the Ministry of Health's Department of National Health Laboratory and Diagnostic Services campus in Butabika, Kampala, in a move aimed at expanding access to faster HIV diagnostic services, particularly Early Infant Diagnosis (EID). Uganda currently has about 315 mPIMA instruments installed across the country. Once the new rollout is completed, the national fleet is expected to rise to approximately 815 instruments. The remaining 400 machines will be delivered in phases over the coming months in coordination with the Ministry of Health and its technical teams. The handover ceremony was attended by Minister of State for Health in charge of General Duties, Hon. Anifa Kawooya, U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Mikael Cleverley, the Director of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and senior officials from the Ministry of Health, Abbott and Lifecare Diagnostics Uganda. The expansion comes as point-of-care testing continues to play a growing role in Uganda's HIV response. By the end of 2025, about half of all Early Infant Diagnosis testing in the country was being conducted at point-of-care sites. Unlike conventional laboratory systems that may require samples to be transported to central facilities before results are returned, point-of-care molecular testing brings diagnostic capacity closer to patients. This can significantly reduce delays in determining the HIV status of infants exposed to the virus, allowing health workers and caregivers to initiate treatment and care more quickly where necessary. Dr Susan Nabadda, Executive Director of Uganda National Health Laboratory Services, said point-of-care testing for viral load and Early Infant Diagnosis is helping transform the delivery of HIV services, especially in resource-limited settings. "By moving high quality molecular testing to local clinics, hospitals or delivery wards, POCT addresses the critical operational barriers of standard lab networks," Dr Nabadda said. Hassan Segujja, an Abbott representative, said the handover represented more than the delivery of equipment, describing it as part of a broader effort to bring advanced diagnostic services closer to Ugandan communities. "Today is not simply about the handover of 100 instruments, it is about a journey of a shared vision, bringing high quality molecular diagnostic testing closer to patients and communities across Uganda," Segujja said. Abbott, through its local partner Lifecare Diagnostics Uganda, will provide technical support throughout the rollout. This will include installation and commissioning of the instruments, training of health workers, preventive maintenance, corrective repairs, spare parts and technical assistance. Lifecare Diagnostics will also undertake ongoing performance monitoring to ensure the equipment is efficiently and effectively utilised. Tephy Mujurizi, Executive Director of Lifecare Diagnostics Ltd, said the company would work with the Ministry of Health to build the capacity of testers and provide sustained technical support to health facilities. "We shall provide technical support in areas of capacity building for testers, installations of these platforms at health facilities, timely services and repair as well as monitoring efficiency and effective utilization of these new innovations through continuous field mentorship and learning," Mujurizi said. The United States Government, which has supported Uganda's efforts to strengthen laboratory systems and expand access to Early Infant Diagnosis, also welcomed the partnership. U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Mikael Cleverley said the United States had supported Uganda for many years in expanding access to timely HIV diagnosis and treatment. "A stronger health system in Uganda benefits both Ugandans and Americans," Cleverley said. The partnership between Uganda, the United States, Abbott and Lifecare Diagnostics is expected to strengthen the country's decentralised diagnostic network and contribute to efforts to accelerate progress towards HIV epidemic control. The deployment also reflects the growing shift towards bringing sophisticated molecular diagnostic technologies closer to communities, reducing dependence on central laboratories and helping health workers make faster decisions about patient care. Abbott has operated in sub-Saharan Africa for nearly six decades, with its operations now spanning pharmaceuticals, nutrition, diagnostics and medical devices across the continent. Lifecare Diagnostics Ltd, Abbott's authorised distributor in Uganda, works with the Ministry of Health to support point-of-care diagnostic services, including training, equipment maintenance and field-based technical assistance across Uganda's 40 greater districts. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at [email protected]). Post Views: 455

Abbott receives FDA approval for its TactiFlex(TM) Duo Ablation Catheter to treat people with abnormal heart rhythms. Wednesday, September 09, 2026 Abbott, the global healthcare leader, announced today it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for the TactiFlex(TM) Duo Ablation Catheter, Sensor Enabled(TM) to treat patients with challenging cases of atrial fibrillation (AFib). The U.S. approval of this dual-energy catheter, the latest generation of Abbott's cardiac ablation technology, marks a significant milestone in Abbott's commitment to advancing therapies that help physicians treat complex heart rhythms with greater precision and flexibility. Abbott will soon begin cases with broader commercial adoption across the country in the coming weeks. Why cardiac ablation matters for people with AFib For the 10.5 million people in the U.S. who live with a heart that beats too fast, too slow or in an irregular way, treatment is critical as AFib increases the risk of serious complications, including stroke.1,2 While many people are treated with medications, others require cardiac ablation, a minimally invasive procedure that targets the tissue responsible for abnormal electrical signals in the heart. TactiFlex Duo is Abbott's latest ablation catheter designed to give physicians more flexibility when treating AFib. The technology allows physicians to use pulsed field ablation (PFA), radiofrequency (RF) energy, or a combination of both during a procedure, helping them tailor treatment to each patient's needs. Abbott's EnSite(TM) X EP System also provides physicians with real-time feedback as an integrated mapping solution with the PFA Index (PI), a tool designed to assess lesion formation during ablation with TactiFlex Duo. The dual-energy approach means physicians can create precise therapeutic lesions, or small areas of scar tissue, that block the abnormal electrical signals causing an irregular heartbeat while helping minimize the impact on surrounding healthy tissue. Successfully treating these areas can help restore the heart's normal rhythm and improve outcomes for patients living with AFib. "Electrophysiology is rapidly evolving as physicians adopt new technologies that improve the safety and effectiveness of AFib treatment," said Atul Verma, M.D., Director of Cardiology at the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, Canada, and a globally recognized expert in pulsed field ablation technology. "TactiFlex Duo provides physicians with greater flexibility during procedures, and when it is combined with the high-resolution 3D visualization available through Abbott's EnSite X mapping system, physicians have a suite of practice-changing tools to confidently treat patients with complex AFib." Safety and effectiveness data support TactiFlex Duo FDA approval The FDA approval of TactiFlex Duo was secured based on the results from Abbott's FlexPulse IDE study. Late-breaking data from the study recently presented at the European Society of Cardiology (ESC) Congress 2026, which was simultaneously published in EP Europace, showed favorable safety and effectiveness outcomes in patients with paroxysmal AFib (irregular heart rhythm episodes that come and go). "TactiFlex Duo represents an important advancement as Abbott builds the industry's most comprehensive electrophysiology portfolio," said Uri Yaron, senior vice president of Abbott's electrophysiology business. "From diagnosis, mapping and intracardiac ultrasound imaging to advanced treatments for the most complex arrhythmias, Abbott is uniquely positioned to support physicians at every stage of patient care. By continuing to expand our PFA portfolio and integrate innovative technologies across cardiovascular care, we're helping physicians navigate increasingly complex procedures while ensuring more patients receive the right care at the right time." Regulatory momentum across Abbott's PFA portfolio The U.S. FDA approval of TactiFlex Duo further expands Abbott's portfolio of technologies designed to help physicians treat patients with cardiac arrhythmias. It is the company's fifth major electrophysiology approval in just over a year, following Europe's Amulet 360(TM) and TactiFlex Duo CE Mark approvals this year, and U.S. and European approvals of the Volt(TM) PFA System in 2025. Frequently Asked Questions What is TactiFlex Duo? TactiFlex Duo is an advanced cardiac ablation catheter designed to treat irregular heart rhythms. Its dual-energy feature combines pulsed field ablation (PFA) and radiofrequency (RF) energy in a single device, allowing physicians to tailor treatment to each patient's unique needs during AFib ablation procedures. How do physicians know the precise locations in the heart to treat patients with TactiFlex Duo? TactiFlex Duo is integrated with Abbott's EnSite X EP System, a sophisticated mapping system that creates highly detailed three-dimensional maps of the heart to help doctors find and treat the source of an irregular heartbeat. Working together with Abbott's Advisor(TM) HD Grid X mapping catheter, ViewFlex(TM) X ICE (intracardiac echocardiography) catheter and EnSite Echo Module, the integrated portfolio is designed to give physicians real-time images of the ablation catheter's positioning and movement, and a digital model of the patient's heart throughout a procedure. The EnSite X EP System also provides physicians with real-time information - called PFA index - which shows how the small areas of scar tissue created by TactiFlex Duo's pulsed field energy develop during an ablation procedure.3 Who may need an ablation using TactiFlex Duo? Patients with atrial fibrillation, particularly those with complex anatomy, prior or failed ablations or other challenging clinical situations, may benefit from treatment with TactiFlex Duo as determined by their physician. What are the patient benefits of being treated with TactiFlex Duo? The catheter offers physicians greater procedural flexibility and precision through dual-energy capabilities, helping treat irregular heart rhythms while reducing the potential for damage to surrounding tissue. Clinical data has shown the technology to be safe and effective. For U.S. important safety information go to: TactiFlex Duo Ablation Catheter, Sensor Enabled Volt(TM) PFA System EnSite(TM) X EP System Advisor HD Grid X Mapping Catheter, Sensor Enabled(TM) ViewFlex X ICE Catheter, Sensor Enabled(TM) and EnSite Echo Module The Amulet 360(TM) Left Atrial Appendage Occluder is approved for investigational use only in the U.S. About Abbott Abbott is a global healthcare leader that helps people live more fully at all stages of life. Its portfolio of life-changing technologies spans the spectrum of healthcare, with leading businesses and products in diagnostics, medical devices, nutritionals and branded generic 3 medicines. Its 122,000 colleagues serve people in more than 160 countries. Connect with Asianhhm Pvt Ltd at www.abbott.com and on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, X and YouTube. Source: prnewswire.com