Human African Trypanosomiasis test
Human African Trypanosomiasis (HAT) or sleeping sickness is a life threatening neglected tropical infection affecting rural population in sub-Saharan Africa. The disease causes severe neurological disorders often leading to death if not treated. Since years, HAT control has been facilitated by the Card Agglutination Test for Trypanosomiasis (CATT/T.b.gambiense), which is particularly suited for large scale screening. But now, with the steadily decreasing prevalence of HAT, specificity becomes a critical parameter. Furthermore, the target population lives in precarious conditions (without electricity) and this test must be robust enough to be carried out in very difficult conditions. A new diagnostic test stable at ambient temperature, cheap and that can be performed with minimal training is the best solution. To fulfil all these requirements, Coris BioConcept has developed the “HAT Sero K-SeT”, which has been successfully validated in the DR of Congo (specificity of 98,6 % ; sensitivity of 98,5 % ; n=493).
