Makerere University is developing a rapid test kit with the aim of lowering the cost of testing for the Coronavirus Disease-Covid-19, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Barnabas Nawangwe has revealed.
Addressing a virtual press conference on Tuesday from the university campus in Uganda’s Capital Kampala, Prof. Nawangwe said their test kits would lower the cost from the current US$65 per sample to just US$1.
He said their researcher and virologist Dr. Misaki Wayengera is leading the research into cheaper tests, which will also take just about five minutes to get results.
“This kit should enable rapid testing for COVID-19 and should considerably lower the cost of testing, which is exorbitant to many ordinary Ugandans,” he said.
He also says the kit seeks to address the challenge that such tests can only be done in the laboratory with specific expertise and period.
Prof. Nawangwe explained that with this quick test, once the nasopharyngeal sample is obtained, it is placed back into its tube containing reagents that detect the virus surface protein.
“On shaking, a positive result will be visualized as formation of particles like what is seen when clear milk, goes bad”, he said.
Ugandan Health Ministry officials are struggling to conduct timely test and confirmation for transit cargo truck drivers who have become the country’s biggest threat.
The samples of the truck drivers are taken but they are allowed to continue with their journey pending the release of the results.
Four truck drivers including a Kenyan and two Tanzanian nationals have so far tested positive for coronavirus.
According to Prof. Nawangwe, Makerere University hospital is set to start conducting Corona Virus Disease-COVID-19 tests, making it the second institution in the country to conduct such tests.
He says they have already received 40,000 testing kits from donors and are currently finalizing implementation details that will enable them to start performing PCR based molecular tests.
Currently, Entebbe based Uganda Virus Research Institute is the only facility in the country conducting Covid-19 tests.
Uganda has so far registered 58 coronavirus cases including a Kenya, 2 Tanzanians and Burundian refugee.
Contributed by Ahmed Wetaka, Kampala Uganda
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