article · PLoS ONE
A pilot study in sub-Saharan Africa investigated the use of a prototype Triplex rapid self-test capable of simultaneously detecting HIV, hepatitis C, and hepatitis B from finger-stick whole blood. The test incorporates four reading bands covering a control and the three target viral infections. Findings show that the diagnostic device demonstrated good practicability and high acceptability among users for diagnosing these chronic conditions together. However, results revealed that participants frequently misinterpreted the test bands. Consequently, delivery models require improvement, likely necessitating administration in a supervised setting. Despite these interpretation challenges, the initial findings offer a rational foundation and establish baseline feasibility for potential large-scale application among populations facing high risk for all three viral infections across the region.
HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C are major chronic infections that often co-occur in sub-Saharan Africa. Combining screening for all three viruses into a single finger-stick test could streamline diagnosis and expand access to care, though addressing user error during test interpretation remains essential before broad roll-out.
This work demonstrates an applied, prototype diagnostic tool tested directly with end users. The device offers opportunities for diagnostics manufacturers targeting public health programmes and high-risk populations in sub-Saharan Africa. Because user interpretation errors were common, commercial deployment will depend on refining the test format or establishing supported, supervised delivery models prior to large-scale market use.
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This pilot study shows evidence for the first time in sub-Saharan Africa on good practicability and high acceptability of a prototype Triplex HIV/HCV/HBsAg self-test for simultaneous diagnosis of three highly prevalent chronic viral infections, providing the rational basis of using self-test harboring four bands of interest, i.e. the control, HIV, HCV, and HBsAg bands. The relatively frequent misinterpretation of the Triplex self-test points however the necessity to improve the delivery of this prototype Triplex self-test probably in a supervised setting. Finally, these observations lay the foundations for the potential large-scale use of the Triplex self-test in populations living in sub-Saharan Africa at high risk for HIV, HBV, and HCV infections.
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DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0249701
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