Kemri seeks WHO approval of new malaria testing kit

Kenya Medical Supplies Authority (KEMSA), Industrial Area, Nairobi, on August 2022. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

At the moment, testing for malaria is done using slides in laboratories. It takes up to one hour to obtain results. However, the new malaria diagnostic kit gives results in just 10 minutes.

"The new malaria test kit is just like the one used to test HIV. It gives results just in 10 minutes. Patients need not to wait for a long time to get results," she said.

Dr Uyoga said the PlasmoChek kit can be used in low-resource health facilities, particularly where microscopy and human resource are unavailable or inadequate.

Malaria diagnosis is mainly done through microscopy (gold standard) and Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs).

There are an estimated 3.5 million new clinical cases and 10,700 deaths each year from malaria in the country.

Children under five and pregnant women are at a higher risk.

At the same time, Uyoga said Kemri has intensified its efforts to develop a better vaccine for malaria.

Kemri also displayed the KenCov-19 test kit it developed to diagnose Covid 19 virus.

Rapid diagnostic test for Malaria. [iStockphoto]

Meanwhile, the Agricultural Society of Kenya (ASK) has announced plans to introduce integrated mix use for its showgrounds in Nairobi, Mombasa, Kisumu and Nakuru.

Addressing the Mombasa ASK international trade fair, chairperson Annabel Kirinya said this is contained in the ASK master plan to ensure the facilities are put to better use.

The facilities will be in use throughout the year under the new arrangement, she said.

The show, which has attracted over 150 exhibitors, was officially opened by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

It is set to end on Sunday.