South Africa
Launch of SA's first Covid-19 self-testing kit─── ZENANDE MPAME 11:16 Wed, 03 May 2023
The nation's first Covid-19 antigen self-test has been unveiled by a medical business in Cape Town, with a companion mobile phone application called HealthPulse TestNow.
The quick diagnostic test was created by Medical Diagnostech (Pty) Ltd, while the mobile application was created by Audere, a US firm with headquarters in Seattle.
Medical Diagnostech works to offer top-notch, first-to-market diagnostic technologies and solutions that will aid in the battle against illnesses and epidemics that are challenging to identify.
Following the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority's (Sahpra) approval of the company's rapid diagnostic test on 28 March 2023, the most recent announcement was made.
To assess the fast test kit's usefulness among people, the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS) also carried out multi-provincial clinical studies.
The catalyst to more innovative biomedical and diagnostic products
Medical Diagnostech CEO and biotechnologist, Ashley Uys of Belhar, is proud of the company’s new product.
“South African healthcare professionals and patient groups have been asking for new and innovative medical products and we believe that the MD Covid-19 Antigen Self-test is the catalyst to more innovative biomedical and diagnostic products,” said Uys.
We are thrilled to introduce this new product to South Africans and the rest of Africa in due course.
“This test is a 15-minute test, quite simple to use, and also very similar to a pregnancy test. The accuracy is above the regulatory threshold of 92% sensitivity and 100% specificity,” explained Uys.
The Covid-19 antigen self-test will be available at all major pharmacies in the next 3-4 weeks.
