Seychelles and Eritrea have become the first countries in Africa to adopt Abbott’s integrated Determine™ Antenatal Care (ANC) Panel, a rapid screening tool designed to support the elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B.
The move marks an important step towards achieving the World Health Organization’s (WHO) triple elimination targets and addressing preventable infections that continue to contribute to illness and death among mothers and newborns across Africa.
The integrated test comes at a time when missed screening opportunities remain a major challenge. An estimated 1.3 million women living with HIV become pregnant each year globally, while around one million pregnant women are diagnosed with syphilis, with the highest burden in sub-Saharan Africa. Untreated syphilis can lead to adverse birth outcomes in up to 60% of pregnancies. In addition, an estimated 71.4 million women of childbearing age were living with chronic hepatitis B infection in 2021.
Health experts say the challenge is particularly acute in sub-Saharan Africa, where many women attend only one antenatal care visit despite WHO’s recommendation of eight contacts during pregnancy. Missing that single opportunity for testing can leave mothers and babies vulnerable to preventable infections.
The Determine™ ANC Panel enables health workers to screen for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B simultaneously using a single finger-prick blood sample. Results are available within minutes, allowing women who test positive to be linked quickly to treatment and preventive services.
The test is currently the first WHO-prequalified rapid diagnostic tool capable of detecting all three infections in a single screening panel. It identifies HIV antibodies and p24 antigen, which can help detect acute HIV infection, syphilis antibodies and hepatitis B surface antigen.
Health officials in Seychelles said the introduction of the test reflects the country’s commitment to eliminating mother-to-child transmission of infectious diseases.
“As a proud island nation and among the first in the region to introduce the integrated Determine™ Antenatal Care panel, we celebrate this important milestone as a reflection of our strong national commitment to eliminating mother-to-child transmission,” the Ministry of Health, Seychelles, said in a statement.
The ministry added that the initiative will strengthen early prenatal screening and ensure timely diagnosis and treatment for pregnant women.
Eritrea’s Ministry of Health said the country had already achieved elimination of mother-to-child transmission of HIV through the integration of prevention services into routine maternal and child health care.
“By deploying integrated diagnostics at primary care level, the country is consolidating these gains and positioning itself as a frontrunner in translating global triple elimination commitments into practical innovations,” the ministry said.
The technology is also attracting interest from other African countries. During a policy roundtable held in Nairobi, Kenya, in April 2026, Dr Andrew Mulwa, head of Kenya’s National AIDS and STIs Control Programme (NASCOP), said the country had updated its national guidelines to support triple elimination of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B among pregnant and breastfeeding women.
“Kenya is keen on the triple elimination of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B, especially in pregnant and lactating women,” Mulwa said.
Aziz Abdi, General Manager for Abbott’s Rapid Diagnostics business in Central, East and West Africa, said the integrated test could transform antenatal care by enabling health workers to detect infections and initiate interventions during the same visit.
“Providing reliable results within minutes empowers health workers to act immediately and prevent transmission before it reaches the child,” he said.
Experts attending the Nairobi meeting noted that HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B share similar transmission pathways and therefore require integrated approaches. They said combining screening into a single test could strengthen national elimination programmes, particularly in settings where women may have limited contact with health services.
As Seychelles and Eritrea lead implementation, public health experts say wider adoption across Africa could help strengthen antenatal care, expand access to testing and treatment, and reduce the risk of mother-to-child transmission of three major infectious diseases.
