FG approves new test kit for HIV

Abuja Rathal
On September 8, 2020, the Federal Government approved the domestic use of the Wondfo HIV I and II Rapid Test Kits to ensure a reduction in the spread of the Abuja HIV virus.

Dr. Akudo Ikpeazu, National Coordinator of the National AIDS/STI Control Program (NASCP), announced this on Tuesday while publishing a kit evaluation report in Abuja.

“The Wondfo Rapid Test Kit can be used as a confirmation test due to its high specification of 99.4%,” she said.

The coordinator said that in 2019 the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) approved the laboratory performance evaluation of the Wonderfo HIV I and II rapid test kits.

In the “Results of the evaluation performed in the reference test lab “Public Health in Vitro Diagnostic Lab, Lagos””, the sensitivity of the Wondfo rapid test kit was 99.5% and its specificity was 99.4%.

“The accuracy of the Rapid Test Kit is 99.4%, and the positive and negative predictive values ​​of the kit against the gold standard are 99.3% and 99.5%, respectively.

“These results met the requirements for the kit to be included in the first screening test of the Nigerian HIV test algorithm,” she explained.

She conducted several rounds of HIV rapid rest kit evaluation using the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for proper evaluation of HIV testing techniques in Africa, which Nigeria recommended three evaluation stages I made it clear.

She noted that these phases were laboratory-based, field-based, and continuous monitoring of algorithm performance.

Ikupea said the national HIV test algorithm was developed from these rounds of evaluation performed and all test kits are antibody-based kits.

“HIV testing is the fulcrum of an HIV program because it establishes an individual’s HIV status and determines subsequent packages of preventive or therapeutic services that benefit that individual.

“Persons testing negatives are advised on how to stay negative, and those testing positives are immediately linked to antiretroviral therapy (ART) services, so they are accurate and reliable with no false negative or false positive results. The importance of providing a possible diagnosis cannot be overemphasized,” she explained.

In his speech, Gambia Aliyu, director of the National Agency for AIDS Control (NACA), highly appreciated the national assessment team for the successful completion of the process.

Aliyu said the agency is using all available strategies to increase hematocrit (HCT) intake in the country.

“The healthcare initiative HCT strategy has been implemented in most government-sponsored hospitals to give all patients coming to the healthcare facility free access to HCT services,” he said.

Aliyu said more Nigerians in the country need to be tested for HIV.

“We need to address the gap between our goals and where we are as a country. 73% in testing, but more testing needs to be done,” Aliyu said.

However, he said it was important for many to be tested and available immediately, and that testing remained a gateway to HIV treatment and care services.

In a welcome remark, Emmanuel Njoku, CEO of PREZZO SHED INVESTMENTS LIMITED, welcomed the Nigerian Federal Government’s dissemination during the time when it was concerned about the quality, effectiveness, and efficiency of care in providing healthcare services. Said that will be done.

“As you may know, there are many evaluations of HIV rapid test kits in Nigeria, but due to the generosity of the government at that time, more HIV rapid test kits could be installed with the WHO specification in mind. We have been given the opportunity to evaluate, and if we find out about the specificity and sensitivity of the HIV rapid test kit, and if it is suitable for use, we can include it in Nigeria’s HIV test algorithm.” explained.

He praised the federal government for approving the kit.

“In addition to other existing HIV rapid test kits that have approved the Technical Committee’s report on the laboratory performance evaluation of Wondfo HIV I & II rapid test kits and Wondfo HIV I & II rapid test kits, the Minister of Health must be recognized. Already used in.”

Naija247news reports the federal government announced in 2019 that the HIV prevalence in Nigeria transmitted between adults aged 15 to 49 was 1.4.

The previous estimate was that the national prevalence of HIV was 2.8%.

UNAIDS and the National Office for AIDS estimates that 1.9 million people live with HIV in Nigeria.