RDTs : Measles and meningitis

Diagnostic tool

Fighting measles and meningitis epidemics through the production of two new rapid diagnostic tests by diaTROPIX

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The project

In brief

DiaTROPIX is a platform for the development and production of rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) within the Pasteur Institute of Dakar. This non-profit initiative aims to produce new rapid diagnostic tests for countries where access to laboratory diagnostics is limited or non-existent.

The MSF Foundation finances and supports DiaTROPIX in developing two new RDTs for measles and meningitis. These two diseases, with high epidemic potential, represent a significant public health issue in the countries where MSF runs medical programs, particularly in Sub-Saharan Africa.

In 2025

Measles RDT – The test design has been finalized, and the production of validation and verification batches is underway. The next step will be conducting analytical and clinical studies to evaluate the test's performance and stability. This is in preparation for regulatory validation and future commercialization at an affordable cost for healthcare facilities in low-resource settings.

Meningitis RDT – Adjustment of the transferred prototype is in progress.

Status of the project

Identification of the need

Measles and meningitis epidemics have almost disappeared in Western countries thanks to sufficient and effective childhood vaccination coverage. This is not the case in many countries in Sub-Saharan Africa and other low-income regions where vaccination coverage is low and adequate rapid diagnostic capacity is often lacking. The mortality rate associated with these epidemics is therefore very high.

MSF's experience in its intervention areas confirms that the key issue in responding to epidemics is the speed of detection, which allows for a response before the epidemic has time to spread.

The later the detection of the epidemic, the higher the transmission, the greater the number of deaths, and the more complex the response becomes.

In Sub-Saharan Africa, delays in detecting an epidemic are explained by two factors:

Limited access to diagnostics (lack of equipment and experts, lack of laboratories, distance from laboratories)
Difficulties in information reporting (long distances, few infrastructures, high transport costs)

MSF Foundation's response

Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are an effective means to improve access to diagnostics. These tests are developed to be used in places where there are no specialized laboratories and provide immediate results at the point of patient care. Quickly confirming or ruling out a diagnosis allows for earlier investigation of an epidemic and thus accelerates the response.

A "non-existent market" issue hinders the development of these RDTs.

For measles, for example, some prototypes already exist, but they have never been produced. Why? Because the economic model of laboratories requires guaranteed order volumes to bring them to market and be profitable. This is not the case for responses to measles epidemics.

For meningitis, some RDTs exist on the market, but they are too expensive, and their storage and usage requirements make them impractical in precarious contexts.

Supporting the development, production, and commercialization by DiaTROPIX of two rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for measles and meningitis will provide MSF entities and health authorities worldwide with rapid test kits for diagnosing measles and meningococcal meningitis, adapted for use in low-resource settings by non-specialist health personnel, at an affordable cost. They must be reliable and robust, and their use should not require electricity or complex equipment.

These RDTs will enable rapid detection of cases in remote areas, thus accelerating and making the response to these epidemics more effective.

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In detail

The MSF Foundation and the DiaTROPIX initiative

DiaTROPIX is a non-profit production platform created in 2018 at the initiative of the Pasteur Institute of Dakar, the Mérieux Foundation, the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), and the Institute of Research for Development (IRD) to improve access to diagnostic tools for patients with neglected tropical diseases and other conditions. DiaTROPIX aims to develop and produce prototypes that do not fit into a for-profit business model but have a demonstrated impact on improving patient care in low-income countries.

In 2017, the Mérieux Foundation, in collaboration with the Pasteur Institute of Dakar, presented the idea of this platform to the MSF Foundation, which joined the working group to explore the subject further, assess its feasibility, and list MSF's operational needs.

Being located in West Africa and supported by the Pasteur Institute of Dakar allows the development of tests close to the patients affected by these deases.

The impact of rapid diagnostic tests on epidemic response

These two rapid tests will:

Provide reliable and quality diagnostics to vulnerable populations and regions where these epidemics are endemic and previously lacked access. They are adapted to precarious contexts in low-resource countries and can be used by non-expert health personnel.
Enable earlier identification of cases and the pathogen. Epidemic response is a race against time; this time-saving and precision will allow for targeted, effective, and faster intervention.
Indicate to health personnel when it is necessary to send samples to the laboratory for confirmation.

Providing access to quality diagnosis in precarious contexts

RDTs have proven their effectiveness, yet the RDTs available on the market or in production do not cover all diseases with epidemic potential. Why?

To produce an RDT, significant purchase volumes must be ensured, requiring a "market" that allows laboratories to make a profit. Developing an RDT is long and costly (requiring prototyping, clinical trials, evaluations, etc.). For measles and meningitis, this market does not exist. If the MSF Foundation and initiatives like DiaTROPIX do not create it by pre-ordering and funding this research, these tests would never be available.

By defining the characteristics of the tests we need, then using and evaluating these products in the field, MSF will demonstrate the urgent need for their existence and continued use in the contexts where we work. By engaging in the pharmaceutical production ecosystem, the MSF Foundation can stimulate the acceleration of the regulation and commercialization of these tests and encourage donors to fund their purchase for use in low-income countries.

The role of the MSF Foundation

The MSF Foundation has chosen to finance and support DiaTROPIX in developing two new rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) for measles and meningitis. In addition to funding, it also collaborates with MSF medical teams to provide clinical evaluations of these tests in precarious intervention settings. Finally, close collaboration with the Pasteur Institute of Dakar is ongoing for the qualification of these tests with the WHO to make them available more quickly.

Today, a prototype has already been manufactured, tested, and evaluated by MSF teams and the Pasteur Institute of Dakar. The teams are actively preparing for large-scale production and deployment.

The Main stages of the program

in pictures

Who's involved?

Our partners

Fondation Bill et Melinda Gates
Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance
OMS (WHO)
CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Beatriz Beato-Sirvent

Deputy Director The MSF Foundation
Dr Amadou Alpha Sall

Administrateur Général Institut Pasteur de Dakar
Dr Cheikh Tidiane Diagne

Responsable des opérations DiaTROPIX

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