Pre-evaluation assessment of serological-based COVID-19 point-of-care lateral flow assays in Kenya.
Afr J Lab Med 2021;
10:1317. [PMID:
34667720 PMCID:
PMC8517658 DOI:
10.4102/ajlm.v10i1.1317]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Background
Timely testing is a key determinant of management outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction tests are currently the mainstay for COVID-19 testing. However, serological point-of-care tests (PoCTs) can be useful in identifying asymptomatic and recovered cases, as well as herd immunity.
Objective
The aim of this study was to assess COVID-19 PoCTs in Kenya to support the emergency use authorisation of these tests.
Methods
Between March 2020 and May 2020, 18 firms, of which 13 were from China, submitted their PoCTs to the national regulatory authority, the Pharmacy and Poison Board, who in turn forwarded them to the Kenya Medical Research Institute for pre-evaluation assessment. The tests were run with real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction COVID-19-positive samples. Pre-COVID-19 plasma samples that were collected in June 2019 were used as negative samples. The shelf lives of the PoCTs ranged from 6 to 24 months.
Results
Only nine (50%) tests had sensitivities ≥ 40% (range: 40% - 60%) and the ability of these tests to detect IgM ranged from 0% to 50%. Many (7/18; 38.9%) of the kits had very weak IgM and IgG band intensities (range: 2-3).
Conclusion
Serological-based PoCTs available in Kenya can only detect COVID-19 in up to 60% of the infected population.
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