News

A new HIV testing kit is under evaluation to replace the SD Bioline, an HIV testing device, which was recently removed by the World Health Organization (WHO) from its list of approved rapid test kits after it failed quality assurance tests.

The new test kit that will replace SD-Bioline is ‘Shangai Kehua Dg’ and it has 100 percent sensitivity, according to Dr Sabin Nsanzimana, the Head of HIV Division at Rwanda Biomedical Center.

He noted that it is a very effective test based on international evaluations and that is why WHO has recommended it.

“However, we will first conduct a two-week evaluation to confirm International conclusions. By March 2012, we will have a new algorithm (a confirmatory) including this new test though we have also set an intermediate algorithm for next month,” Nsanzimana said.

maria.kaitesi@newtimes.co.rw