KNUST and Incas Diagnostic have developed and Optimizing rapid Covid-19 test kits
Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in a collaborative effort with Incas Diagnostics, a diagnostic company in Kumasi have developed and optimizing a Rapid diagnostic Tests for Covid-19 testing.
This essential contribution towards the fight of Covid-19 in Ghana, will augment the current Covid-19 testing regime in Ghana. The development is in line with two(2) of Ghana’s objective in the fight against the viral infection, contain the spread of the virus, inspire expansion of our domestic capability and deepen our self reliance.
According to a statement published by KNUST, the device will be able to detect asymptomatic cases and enables decentralized testing to be done anywhere since it does not require any equipment to be able to work and requires a little technical training for those performing the tests.
“The test which takes 15-20 minutes to perform, would enable those tested to know their results in a shorter time to enable decision making in real time by health authorities” the statement said.
A key use of this RDT would be for mass testing of the population to identify all those who have been exposed to the virus and thus provide key data for efforts to model the course of the pandemic and also enhance contact tracing.
The statement revealed that KNUST and Incas Diagnostic have been in touch with the Ministry of health and the national Covid-19 Response team throughout the development of the RDT. The developers are currently engaging the Food and Drug Authority for the necessary framework.
By: NK AB
