The importance of timely laboratory diagnosis
Timely laboratory diagnosis is pivotal in healthcare, particularly in resource-constrained regions, where disease burdens are pronounced. Challenges like inaccessibility, unaffordability, and lack of infrastructure have hindered timely diagnosis, making laboratory diagnostics a critical weak link in the care continuum for many prevalent conditions.
The Kenya Harmonized Health Facility Assessment (KHFA) of 2018-2019 revealed that the mean availability of expected diagnostic tests in Kenya stood at 56%, with urban health facilities boasting 69% availability, compared to 50% in rural areas.
Effective diagnostic tests not only limit healthcare costs but also mitigate trial-and-error treatments and overprescription. They expedite treatment initiation, reducing hospital stays. Multiplex testing, as offered by BIONEAR, provides a comprehensive diagnostic profile, potentially reducing the number of tests required, especially in cases with similar causative agents or during urgent outbreaks.
Strengthening the Community Health Systems by combining quality diagnostics in a mobile laboratory with existing health infrastructure – a pilot study
In collaboration with the Ministry of Health, Foundation for New and Innovative Diagnostics, Praesens Care, and JKUAT, a mobile laboratory (BIONEAR) was deployed in Mombasa through the County Health Management Team to bolster community health systems. This strategic initiative targeted priority pathogens prevalent in the county, leveraging existing healthcare infrastructure.
Mombasa County was chosen as the pilot site due to its specific pathogen profile, diagnostic needs, and geographical and social features. Over a 4-month period, the mobile laboratory was routinely deployed to conduct four categories of tests—Molecular, Biochemical, Serological, and Hematological—in support of 13 public county health facilities spanning six sub-counties. Additionally, BIONEAR actively participated in eight county-sponsored medical community outreaches.
Throughout these efforts, a total of 2395 diagnostic tests were conducted, highlighting the effectiveness of integrating quality diagnostics within the community health framework.
The pilot study had 3 important objectives:
Support in public Health Emergencies and Outbreak Control
The BIONEAR contributed significantly to augmenting disease surveillance activities of the County Department of Health.
Notably, during a diarrhea outbreak in children and a cholera emergency in Mombasa County, the multiplex testing capabilities of BIONEAR proved invaluable. With onsite testing facilitated by the mobile laboratory, the short turnaround time enabled swift implementation of containment measures by the County Health Department. This collaborative partnership not only expedited outbreak response but also significantly reduced both time and costs associated with sample analysis, offering a rapid and cost-effective solution to emergent health threats.
Capacity strengthening
The personnel involved in this pilot study experienced skill acquisition and knowledge enhancement through the utilization of high quality diagnostic equipment provided by BIONEAR. Consequently, the deployment of BIONEAR served not only as a diagnostic tool but also as a training and capacity-building platform, facilitating knowledge transfer and skill development among laboratory staff.
Turnaround time
The introduction of BIONEAR expedited turnaround time (TAT) for clinicians, enabling prompt prescription of appropriate medications or subsequent courses of action in patient management. This reduction in TAT not only alleviates the burden of travel for patients, thereby saving time and costs, but also minimizes the risk of infectious disease transmission and reduces the likelihood of patient loss to follow-up.
This partnership resulted in:
“I am glad to note that the laboratory played a significant role in providing support for surveillance and public health emergency services in Mombasa County.” Dr. Swabaha Ahmed Omar, CEC Health, Mombasa County
Praesens Care commitment
At Praesens Care, we are dedicated to enhancing local capacity and positively impacting patient health outcomes. Our mobile medical laboratory, BIONEAR, is poised to play a pivotal role in addressing the accessibility gap in diagnostics. By offering advanced diagnostics paired with a reduction in turnaround time, travel duration, and patient loss to follow-up, BIONEAR can significantly influence prevention, surveillance, diagnosis, and monitoring efforts.
We are committed to providing an adaptable platform that can cater to diverse local needs and objectives. Whether it's surveillance of non-communicable diseases or rapid deployment during disease outbreaks at the county or national level, BIONEAR stands ready to meet the challenge.
Our approach emphasizes the fusion of local empowerment with high-quality diagnostics and care. We believe this combination is instrumental in achieving more efficient outcomes than those traditionally offered by public facilities. With Praesens Care and BIONEAR, communities can access timely, accurate, and tailored healthcare solutions, ultimately improving overall health and well-being.
