A major breakthrough in COVID-19 testing in Ghana is looming as scientists at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in collaboration with Incas Diagnostics, a diagnostic company in Kumasi, have created a Rapid Diagnostic Test Kit to aid in quick testing of COVID-19.
According to a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of KNUST, Dr Daniel Norris Bekoe, the creation of the test kit is in line with Ghana’s objectives in the fight against the coronavirus, specifically to “contain the spread of the virus, inspire the expansion of domestic capability and deepen self-reliance”.
Scientists from the Kumasi Centre for Collaborative Research (KCCR), one of the major testing centres for Covid-19 in Ghana, are also reported to have made significant inputs into the development.
The device uses finger-prick blood – just like blood glucose test or home pregnancy test – to detect two different types of antibodies produced by the body when it is fighting off Covid-19 infection at least seven days after infection – whether the person is showing symptoms or not.
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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 efforts.
Senegal was the first to achieve this breakthrough on the African continent in partnership with mologic , UK. In Senegal, the price is $1 for testing. Ghana, thus becomes the second country in Africa to achieve this feat.
Source: GhanaCelebrities.Com