Health Canada has authorized a new dual HIV–syphilis rapid test, marking an important step in responding to rising infection rates across the country—especially in the Prairie provinces, where the need for faster, more accessible testing is urgent.
On Dec. 24, 2024, the agency issued a medical device licence to Nova Scotia–based MedMira Inc. for its Multiplo® TP/HIV Rapid Test. This point-of-care tool can identify both HIV-1/2 and syphilis antibodies from a single finger-prick blood sample and provides results on the spot.
The approval is backed by evidence from a major clinical study conducted in Alberta.
The research demonstrated the device’s performance and potential to strengthen frontline testing and early diagnosis efforts.
The study was co-led by Dr. Sean B. Rourke, director of REACH Nexus and scientist at the MAP Centre for Urban Health Solutions at St. Michael’s Hospital (Unity Health Toronto), together with Dr. Ameeta Singh from the University of Alberta—whose joint work played a key role in securing the licence.
"We urgently need more rapid testing options to reach the undiagnosed with HIV, syphilis and other blood-borne infections and sexually transmitted infections (STBBIs),” said Dr. Rourke, the director of REACH Nexus at MAP. “We are very excited about the critical implementation science work that went into getting this device approved and into the hands of healthcare professionals.”
Read the full story from Unity Health Toronto here.
