The World Health Organisation has prequalified the first diagnostic test for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency, vital for safe treatment of P. vivax malaria relapse.

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he World Health Organisation (WHO) has announced the prequalification of the first diagnostic test for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, a key step towards safer treatment of Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) malaria relapse.

This test will play a vital role in preventing severe side effects from anti-relapse treatments and improving access to life-saving healthcare globally.

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G6PD deficiency, a genetic disorder affecting over 500 million people worldwide, can cause acute hemolysis (destruction of red blood cells) when certain malaria medications are used.

The prequalification of the G6PD diagnostic test addresses this safety concern and ensures that malaria treatments, like tafenoquine-based therapies, can be administered more effectively and safely.

WHO’s streamlined process for developing and approving health products has fast-tracked the availability of the G6PD test, which was essential to the safe use of recently approved anti-relapse treatments included in the updated WHO guidelines for P. vivax malaria.

This advancement is particularly crucial for countries with high malaria burdens, especially low- and middle-income nations, where P. vivax malaria remains endemic.

WHO Assistant Director-General for Access to Medicines and Health Products, Yukiko Nakatani, stated that the test’s prequalification would make quality-assured diagnostics more accessible, allowing healthcare professionals to select the most appropriate treatments for patients.

The new G6PD diagnostic tool, manufactured by SD Biosensor, is designed to be used in both laboratory and non-laboratory settings.

It provides semi-quantitative, near-patient results within minutes, helping clinicians make informed decisions about treatment.

With approximately 9.2 million cases of P. vivax malaria reported in 2023 alone, the WHO hopes this development will strengthen global malaria responses, reduce relapse rates, and prevent the onward transmission of malaria, ultimately leading to a reduction in malaria-related deaths.

The WHO’s prequalification of the G6PD test is a major step in improving the safety and efficacy of malaria treatments and expanding access to essential health tools globally.

Source: Read more at thecable.ng