Seychelles and Eritrea adopt Abbott’s triple elimination test for maternal health

AFRICA—Seychelles and Eritrea have adopted Abbott’s integrated Determine™ Antenatal Care (ANC) Panel to strengthen the triple elimination of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B virus (HBV), marking a major step in maternal and newborn health across Africa.

This move supports World Health Organization targets and introduces a single rapid screening approach that can detect all three infections during one antenatal visit.

Preventable infections continue to drive maternal and infant mortality, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, where access to repeated antenatal visits remains limited.

Health authorities estimate that 1.3 million women with HIV become pregnant globally each year, while syphilis affects around 1 million pregnant women, with the highest burden reported in Africa.

Without timely diagnosis, syphilis can cause adverse birth outcomes in up to 60 percent of cases, while chronic hepatitis B continues to place mothers and infants at long-term risk.

Point-of-care innovation in maternal health

Abbott’s Determine™ ANC Panel enables simultaneous detection of HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B from a single finger-prick sample, delivering results within minutes at the point of care.

The assay detects HIV p24 antigen and antibodies, supporting early identification of acute and chronic infection, while also identifying syphilis antibodies and hepatitis B surface antigen with high accuracy.

The WHO-prequalified test meets performance standards across all analytes and supports faster linkage to treatment and preventive care for pregnant women.

Country commitments to elimination goals

In Seychelles, the Ministry of Health said the adoption reflects a strong commitment to eliminating mother-to-child transmission and improving early prenatal screening.

In Eritrea, health officials noted that the country has already eliminated mother-to-child transmission of HIV and is strengthening integrated maternal and child health services through expanded diagnostics.

Regional policy discussions in Nairobi

At a policy roundtable in Nairobi, Kenya, in April 2026, public health leaders highlighted the importance of integrated testing for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B in strengthening national PMTCT strategies.

Experts emphasized that all three infections share similar transmission pathways, making combined screening an efficient approach for early detection and treatment.

Expanding access to rapid diagnostics

Recent developments from Abbott in rapid diagnostic technologies across Africa continue to focus on expanding point-of-care testing and strengthening maternal health programs through partnerships with governments and health agencies.

Health experts say that integrating such tools into routine antenatal care can reduce missed testing opportunities, particularly in settings where women attend only one prenatal visit.

The integrated ANC panel is designed for use at primary healthcare level, allowing trained healthcare workers to perform testing without laboratory infrastructure and immediately link positive cases to treatment services.

It also supports improved detection of acute HIV infections through p24 antigen testing, which is critical for reducing early mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy and delivery.

Effective screening and rapid treatment initiation are aligned with global elimination targets set by WHO for HIV, syphilis, and hepatitis B in maternal health programs.