Antenatal screening in Sub-Saharan Africa faces a critical gap: today, testing for infectious diseases is still predominantly limited to HIV. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends combining HIV screening with tests for Syphilis and viral Hepatitis. Currently, these screenings are conducted using individual strip tests.
Handling multiple rapid tests in parallel presents several challenges. These include usability issues such as multiple finger pricks and varying incubation times, which are difficult to manage during a consultation and can lead to potential errors. Additionally, storing multiple rapid tests in primary care settings poses logistical constraints due to the varying shelf lives and storage requirements of these tests.
For these reasons, the WHO supports the development of multiplex tests.
Regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa face additional challenges due to financial constraints. When a screening test for Hepatitis B is positive, referral for treatment requires additional analyses to guide treatment decisions. This testing is performed in laboratories, is expensive, and is often unaffordable for pregnant women.