By Ali Mohammed Zanna, (9NEWS NIGERIA, MAIDUGURI)
The World Health Organization (WHO) has made a significant breakthrough in the fight against malaria by prequalifying the first diagnostic test for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, a condition critical in determining safe treatment for Plasmodium vivax (P. vivax) malaria.
This development is expected to improve the delivery of anti-relapse medications such as tafenoquine, recently approved by WHO, by ensuring treatments are safer for patients with G6PD deficiency.
A Milestone in Malaria Control
Malaria remains a global health crisis, causing around 500,000 deaths annually, with children being the most affected.
Among malaria strains, P. vivax is the second most common, accounting for 9.2 million cases each year, particularly in regions outside sub-Saharan Africa.
The pre-qualification of the STANDARD G6PD System, developed by SD Biosensor, Inc., is a major step in controlling malaria, especially in regions where the disease remains a public health threat.
This diagnostic tool will enable health workers to identify G6PD deficiency, allowing safer prescription of anti-relapse drugs while preventing severe health complications.
Safer Treatment Through Advanced Diagnostics
G6PD deficiency affects over 500 million people worldwide and can lead to acute haemolysis, a severe reaction involving the destruction of red blood cells when treated with certain malaria medications.
The newly approved STANDARD G6PD System offers rapid results on G6PD enzyme activity levels, ensuring clinicians can make informed treatment decisions and avoid life-threatening complications.
Dr. Yukiko Nakatani, WHO’s Assistant Director-General for Access to Medicines and Health Products, described the development as transformative, saying “the prequalification of this G6PD enzyme test for patients with P. vivax malaria can help countries expand access to reliable diagnostic tools, ensuring safe and effective treatment for relapsing malaria.”
The test is suitable for use in both well-equipped laboratories and remote healthcare settings, making it highly adaptable for use in low-resource regions.
Strengthening Malaria Control Efforts
The WHO’s decision to prequalify this test aligns with its global health equity agenda, which focuses on accelerating access to essential medical technologies in low- and middle-income countries.
Dr. Daniel Ngamije Madandi, Director of WHO’s Global Malaria Programme, highlighted the test’s broader impact:
“A wider availability of this test can help strengthen malaria control efforts by reducing P. vivax relapses and onward transmission, contributing significantly to the global malaria response,” Madandi said.
By reducing malaria relapses and transmission, this diagnostic tool is expected to play a vital role in improving health outcomes and saving lives in malaria-endemic regions.
A Call for Further Innovations
In light of this achievement, WHO has called on other manufacturers to submit additional diagnostic tools for evaluation to expand testing options further.
This strategy aims to ensure a wider range of quality-assured diagnostic solutions for countries struggling with malaria burdens.
The pre-qualification of the STANDARD G6PD System represents a significant advancement in malaria management, offering hope for millions affected by P. vivax malaria and G6PD deficiency.
As global efforts continue, innovations like these are crucial in achieving malaria elimination goals.
