This archive report was first published on 17 June 2020.
On June 17, 2020, Health Chief Administrative Secretary Dr Rashid Aman sounded the alarm about the presence of unlicensed Covid-19 testing kits in Kenya.
Dr Aman highlighted the standard real-time PCR test as the reliable method for diagnosing Covid-19, which detects the nucleic acid of the virus.
"We have noticed several testing kits claiming to diagnose Covid-19 flooding our market. This is a matter that needs to be addressed," Dr Aman said.
He emphasized that the PCR test is the only method that definitively identifies the presence of the coronavirus, as it detects the virus's genetic material.
Dr Aman also discussed the development of antibody-based rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), which detect antibodies produced in response to exposure to the virus.
However, he noted that RDTs are not sensitive or specific enough to accurately diagnose Covid-19 and should only be used for surveillance purposes to gauge exposure to the virus.
Kenya had confirmed 4,044 Covid-19 cases at the time of Dr Aman's statement.
