Feasibility analysis of the SICKLECHECK™ test kit for rapid screening of sickle cell disease at a County Referral Hospital in Kenya
African Journal of Laboratory Medicine
| Field | Value | |
| Title | Feasibility analysis of the SICKLECHECK™ test kit for rapid screening of sickle cell disease at a County Referral Hospital in Kenya | |
| Creator | Katayi, Antony S. Marabi, Phidelis M. Musyoki, Stanslaus K. | |
| Description | Background: The burden of sickle cell disease in Western Kenya is substantial; however, there is limited research on the effectiveness of rapid diagnostic tests for the condition.Objective: This study evaluated the feasibility of using the SICKLECHECK™ rapid test kit for detecting sickle cell disease at Bungoma County Referral Hospital, Kenya.Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out between October 2023 and February 2024 and included both healthy children and children with a known haemoglobin phenotype. The SICKLECHECK™ rapid screening test was compared to Bio-Rad™ high-performance liquid chromatography, which served as the reference standard. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and overall accuracy were calculated using MedCalc™ statistical software.Results: The study involved 194 children (98 girls and 96 boys), aged between 10 weeks and 15 years, with haemoglobin profiles sickle cell negative (n = 78), sickle cell trait (n = 21), and sickle cell disease (n = 95). The SICKLECHECK™ test demonstrated sensitivity, specificity, negative predictive value, and accuracy exceeding 97%, with a positive predictive value of 94.18% for haemoglobin A. It also effectively distinguished between normal (sensitivity 97.44%, specificity 99.14%), carrier (sensitivity 90.48%, specificity 98.27%), and disease (sensitivity 98.95%, specificity 98.99%) phenotypes.Conclusion: Based on the findings in this study, SICKLECHECK™ could be a reliable point-of-care diagnostic tool for sickle cell disease. The encouragement of healthcare facilities, especially in resource-limited settings, to adopt the SICKLECHECK™ rapid test for routine screening and diagnosis of sickle cell disease is recommended.What this study adds: This study highlights the diagnostic reliability of the SICKLECHECK™ rapid test in accurately identifying and differentiating sickle cell disease, trait, and normal haemoglobin phenotypes, reinforcing its potential role in strengthening early diagnosis efforts in clinical settings. | |
| Publisher | AOSIS | |
| Date | 2025-07-29 | |
| Identifier | 10.4102/ajlm.v14i1.2739 | |
| Source | African Journal of Laboratory Medicine; Vol 14, No 1 (2025); 7 pages 2225-2010 2225-2002 | |
| Language | eng | |
| Relation |
The following web links (URLs) may trigger a file download or direct you to an alternative webpage to gain access to a publication file format of the published article:
https://ajlmonline.org/index.php/ajlm/article/view/2739/3201
https://ajlmonline.org/index.php/ajlm/article/view/2739/3202
https://ajlmonline.org/index.php/ajlm/article/view/2739/3203
https://ajlmonline.org/index.php/ajlm/article/view/2739/3204
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