NIGERIAN LABORATORY ON THE PATH TO TRANSFORM AFRICA’S COVID-19 TESTING PROCESS
Covid-19 testing is on the path of noteworthy advancement in Africa following the outcome of a major breakthrough by a Nigerian laboratory set to deploy rapid diagnostic test kits, using paper strips, to trigger a regime of mass testing across the continent.
Prof. Christian Happi, a professor of molecular biology and genomics at African Centre for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID) in Redeemer’s University, Ede, Osun State, is currently the Director, Directorate of Research Innovations and Partnerships (DRIPs) of Redeemer’s University developed the kits with his colleague, Pardis Sabeti, a professor at the Center for Systems Biology and Department of Organismic and Evolutionary Biology at Harvard University in the United States.
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Prof. Christian Happi serves on the board of several top international societies and committees and is an editorial board member and reviewer for several international peer-reviewed journals. Prof. Happi became a public figure in 2014 during the Ebola outbreak when he confirmed the diagnosis of the first case of the disease in Nigeria using advanced genomics and deep sequencing technology to develop swift diagnostic tests against the Ebola virus. He worked with health professionals in containing the deadly Ebola virus and additionally created a rapid diagnostic test for Lassa fever.
On the new COVID-19 testing kits, Prof. Christian Happi revealed that the testing kits are about to be rolled out for medical use.
“The good thing about this test is that it takes only thirty minutes and can be administered by anyone, anywhere, unlike the PCR test which takes about 7-8 hours and requires the use of heavy machinery.” He stated, adding, “It is fast, reliable, affordable, and very comparable to PCR.
The Polymerize Chain Reaction (PCR) test is used to directly detect the presence of an antigen, rather than the presence of the body’s immune response, or antibodies.
Nigerian laboratory is on the path to transform Africa’s COVID-19 testing process and we love to see this eventual breakthrough.