KEMRI scientists make breakthrough in malaria testing kits

Health facilities in far flung areas especially in malaria high burden counties will get to benefit from the recently commissioned locally manufactured malaria rapid diagnostic kits.

The kits which were made by scientists at the Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) are set to enhance diagnosis of malaria by reducing cost of testing.

Kenya records an estimated 3.5 million new clinical cases and 10,700 deaths from malaria each year.

After self medicating with painkillers, Elizabeth Rutto opted to visit the Baringo County Referral Hospital for a malaria test, given the disease burden in the county.

“Nilikuwa naskia kichwa inauma, viungo, tumbo, joto… alafu nikikula naskia kutapika…ndio nikaamua kuja kujipima malaria,” said Elizabeth.

Ten minutes after her blood sample was taken, the rapid diagnostic kit indicated that she indeed had malaria.

Another sample was examined under the microscope; 30 minutes later the test would also reveal that she had malaria.

Malaria being the most prevalent vector borne disease in Baringo County, use of rapid diagnostic kits has been the norm especially in such camps within far flung villages as well as community health centres.

The commissioning of locally manufactured kits, courtesy of efforts by scientists at KEMRI, have become a big deal in Baringo.

Mica Chebo, a lab technologist at the Baringo County Referral Hospital, said: “The advantages are that it can be used in places where there is no electricity, it can be run even by non-laboratory technologists, and it takes lesser time.”

Dr. Rose, a research scientist at KEMRI, stated: “It is going to increase the ability to screen and identify malaria patients at community and health facility levels.”

Kenya has been importing test kits since 2012, when the Ministry of Health advised that the kits be used for malaria diagnosis nationwide. The milestone achieved by KEMRI now saving the country an excess of Ksh.58 million shillings.

Thomas Chepchieng, the Director Medical Services in Baringo, said: “The time spans taken to procure the kits and the turnaround time for imports will be reduced and access to the test kits will be available.”

The locally manufactured test kit will retail at Ksh.60 against the market price of the imported ones which retails at Ksh.300 a kit.

KEMRI and the Ministry of Health have now shifted their focus to upscaling production and distribution of the rapid diagnostic kits countrywide.

“Hautachukua muda mrefu sana kupata results, naona kama itakuwa kity mzuri sana na itatusaidia kwa sababu itapunguza laini na watu watapata dawa haraka,” said Elizabeth.