Microsoft Word 02Preface doc

Table 5.14    Market Prices for Diagnostic Kits for Hepatitis B 
Name of diagnostic kit 
Unit price/test (Kshs) 
HEPCELL II 
50 
Celia-Hep B 
130 
CDI 100 
Nerugost 140 
Rialab 160 
Eurotec 70 
ELISA 100 
Note: 1 US Dollar = 79.75 Kenyan Shilling (as of July 2004) 
Prepared by the investigation team 
 
Besides the financial aspect, HEPCELL has the following advantages: 
 
¾
 
Technicians and technologists in the provincial and district hospitals have acquired 
skills in the use of HEPCELL II through training by KEMRI. 
¾
 
KEMRI is able to quickly deal with and respond to questions from the users. 
¾
 
KEMRI is able to establish a sustainable supply system due to its own production 
within the country. 
¾
 
Simple operation and does not require electricity; furthermore, no additional 
apparatus is required. 
 
NPHLS could not provide a sufficient number of diagnostic kits for Hepatitis B before 
they adopted HEPCELL as the official diagnostic kit.  According to NPHLS, the 
adoption of the most inexpensive kit, HEPCELL II, enabled NPHLS to supply 
diagnostic kits to most of the district hospitals.  As a result, the screening rate of 
blood for transfusions increased from 45% to 95%.