Kenyan Scientists Develop Test Kits That Give Covid-19 Results within 15 Minutes

In America..."The First World"...they can't test for Corona Virus unless you have all of the top 4 symptoms primarily because they don't have enough test kits.
In the so called..."3rd World countries"...they seem to have the test kits for all.
Ever wondered who labeled some countries..."The 3rd world countries"???!!!!

Amid this COVID-19 pandemic, it is easy to focus on the negative and very little on the positive. This is great news. African countries are turning to local manufacturing of test kits, PPEs, and medication to treat COVID-19. I hope this will become a permanent improvement. We cannot depend on foreign suppliers, especially for our most basic needs, such as medical products. Go, Africa!

I heard that those people who received BCG are doing better than those who did not get it. They are trying to make a drug based on TB vaccine.

Corona is a blessing and a curse. It has forced this Kenri to think outside the box. We had forgotten about Kemri because we were importing everything even the things we can make locally.

The West takes 4 to 7 days to get results. Kenyans will know results in 15 minutes. Who has the brains? Where is the brain power? And they still think we are monkeys let alone guinea pigs. Mungu!

I was under the impression that they received the test machines from Germany; a consignment initially meant for South Africa...Maybe I heard wrong.

Availability of test kits has never been an issue. The main issue, according to the CDC, was the accuracy of the test kits, in detecting the new Coronavirus. Mind you, this is a new virus, and its Genetic Sequence is not known by the tests that we already have. Even the Chinese jailed the Doctor who said that this was a new virus... for 'spreading fear'... The delay in getting widespread testing has nothing to do with getting machines, test tubes, and chemicals to do the job, but because we have to first understand the genome of this virus, so that tests are accurate. We don't want to tell people who are Negative, that they are Positive, and vise versa. Science is based on facts. The only thing that we are sure of as of now is that like the Common Cold, or Flu, it is a Coronavirus. We also know that it has a Genetic Sequence similar to that found in animals, specifically bats. My point is that it better to have a few tests, which are accurate, than to have many tests, whose accuracy is not guaranteed.

Settled Nomad, and who tells you that Kemri's many tests will not be accurate? You can have many accurate tests. It's high time you stopped texting 'Trump' to 88022 and start believing in black people's capabilities. Unless you are an uncle Tom.

Settled Nomad, if you are a scientist, then switch to action and get us a solution out this big problem. Don't be an arm chair scientist who spends most of the time on Social media, get back to the lab.

Settled Nomad,who tells you that those who write their opinions here are not scientists? Who tells you that test developed by Kemri is not accurate. You keep on mentioning CDC as if no scientific fact cannot come outside CDC. Let Africans scientists demonstrate their scientific acumen devoid of derailment by colonized brains like yours. Go Go Go Kemri!!

I have always considered Kenya a very capable tech player but our state institutions frustrates any new ideas. I blame KEBS, KRA and KIEDI for the stagnation. You start something and all the three have mega idea killing hurdles you have to pass before you can make a single shilling. You import something you can sell with no one ever asking what it even is.

This is a time to be united globally. We can only beat Covid-19 through working together.
Its not a time for drawing comparisons.
We must heal the world and make it a better place for everyone.

When is KEMRI going to start the mass testing of 35,000 tests a day? What is the next plan of action?

Scientists around the world are trying to figure out how to deal with COVID-19. Our Kenyan scientists should have the opportunity to prove themselves. Of course, all medical tools and medications need testing to ensure their efficacy. If I am going to give a US scientist the trust to come up with a valid test kit, why not a Kenyan scientist? Brothers and sisters, let's focus on cheering for scientists across the globe, but refuse to be guinea pigs for Europeans:) Besides, who do we think will bring us test kits if they don't have enough in their own countries. Remember the tool kits that went from China to Europe, and they didn't work?

As Africans we tend worship anything white,especially language and appearance,for example there are those of us who think English is the language of God and we spend billions on make up trying to look like them.Its a pity,actually heartbreaking!
The same people who labelled us 3rd world also labelled everything disgusting thing as black,from black spot to blacklist to black Friday etc.
Its high we acknowledge our potential and be proud of our worth.We are the best!

We have the brains but lack the resources...our ideas in Africa wazungu take n own by using us..Africa let’s unite.

Who said Americans Europeans Chinese are more capable beings than Africans. Please hang yourself on the next tree if that's your thought process. We must believe in ourselves for now. The cure will come from Africa. Well done Kenya

KRA will slap these local inventors Sh 9 billion tax and they'll forget about whether they were going forward or backwards.

Our leaders are our prime betrayers; we would be far and we can go far were it not for their insatiable egocentrism!The world has enough for our needs but not for our greed!

I love how kuna haters when reading this posts. Someone has said it out aloud that he does not trust the kits or the results. Guys think since they dont trust the government it also applies too KEMRI. Kemri is the best in Africa and if you doubt it ask the guys in that field. They know what they are doing and dont think they are dumb as you might want to think. Look over the published medical journals that have been peer reviewed by other researchers and you will be surprised to see the bulk of KEMRI scientist than any other within the region. We are so accustomed to knee jerk reactions from our politicians so much that we would like to equate the same to KEMRI guys. Even india currently are using their own locally made kits same as south korea. Another iidiot says it takes 350 in 24 hours and i think he is not reading the newspapers. Currently the tests are small in nubbers because they are done manually and are done in triplicates for certainity. The COBAS machines is now being retrofitted since initially it was designed to test for HIV and TB so it meant that custom making the kits and reagents to be used. COBAS does everything automatically from the centrifuging, destopping, labeling, sample identifications and the rest up to when you get the results. So haters will continue to hate . Give KEMRI credit.