Rapid diagnostic test for chikungunya antigen

While Chikungunya continues to expand its geographic reach and incidence rates, access to PCR-based testing remains confined to hospital settings, with point-of-care testing for the disease still unavailable in endemic regions. This project aimed to develop a potential companion diagnostic tool for vaccine trials to address prior infection and antibody-dependent enhancement risk for Chikungunya. The team collaborated with Konkuk University to develop the first Chikungunya antigen rapid test for disease identification with increased sensitivity compared to existing antibody tests. The team has developed an advanced Chikungunya diagnostic kit with improved clinical sensitivity and specificity compared to existing products. Further refinement of this diagnostic test will maximize accessibility in LMICs owing to cost reduction.