The Nigerian healthcare sector is set to benefit from the registration of seven new diagnostic products manufactured by Ash Biomedical Diagnostics Limited. The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has approved these products, which cover four areas of testing: HIV, malaria, hepatitis, and pregnancy. The products are expected to provide healthcare facilities and screening programmes with additional options for identifying people who may need further medical attention.
The seven newly registered products are ABD HIVChek, MalChek, MalChek Plus, HepaQuik, HepaQuik Duo, PregSure, and FlaviQuik. Notably, FlaviQuik is used for rapid testing for Hepatitis C, while HepaQuik Duo is designed to screen for both Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C with one test. These products were developed and tested to meet regulatory requirements, with the company's Managing Director, Adetoyese Shodeinde, emphasizing the importance of quality and reliability in their products.
Ash Biomedical Diagnostics Limited has been working towards building confidence in Nigerian healthcare manufacturing. According to Shodeinde, the company's vision is to ensure that every product carrying the Ash Biomedical name meets the standards required for quality, reliability, and national regulatory approval. The company has supplied about 15 million test kits through government and institutional contracts in 27 states, with its products reaching all 36 states of the federation.
The company's products have undergone independent evaluations, which found complete agreement between its rapid-test results and reference laboratory findings. These evaluations were carried out at the APIN Reference Laboratory, NISA Premier, Garki Hospital, Police Clinics, and the National Hospital, Abuja. Although details of the number of samples involved in the evaluations were not provided, the results demonstrate the accuracy and reliability of Ash Biomedical's products.
Ash Biomedical Diagnostics Limited was established in 2011 and has since been working to increase local production of rapid diagnostic products. The company is constructing a diagnostic manufacturing facility in Idu, Abuja, which is expected to be completed and commissioned in the first quarter of 2027. This facility is expected to reduce dependence on imported testing kits and increase the availability of locally produced diagnostic products.
The availability of these new test kits is expected to provide healthcare facilities and screening programmes with additional options for identifying people who may need further medical attention. However, healthcare facilities and patients would still need to use products according to approved instructions and appropriate medical guidance. The company's products have the potential to improve healthcare outcomes in Nigeria by increasing access to rapid diagnostic testing.
The registration of these seven new diagnostic products brings the number of rapid diagnostic options available from Ash Biomedical across HIV, malaria, hepatitis, and pregnancy testing to a wider range. The company's commitment to quality and reliability has been demonstrated through its products and manufacturing processes. With the completion of its new diagnostic manufacturing facility, Ash Biomedical is poised to play an increasingly important role in Nigeria's healthcare sector.
Key points
- Seven new rapid test kits for HIV, malaria, hepatitis, and pregnancy have been approved for use in Nigeria.
- The test kits were manufactured by Ash Biomedical Diagnostics Limited and registered by NAFDAC.
- The company's new diagnostic manufacturing facility in Abuja is expected to be completed in 2027 and increase local production of rapid diagnostic products.
