A new testing package that combines HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B screening could help expand testing for pregnant women in Nigeria and other low and middle income countries.
The package, known as the Triple Elimination Testing Bundle, was launched by Premier Medical Corporation and Impact Nexus Africa. Nigeria is among the countries identified as having a large potential market for antenatal hepatitis B screening. Other countries named include Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, Mozambique and South Africa.
The bundle is being offered at a price of $1 per woman screened before shipping and other local costs. It contains two rapid diagnostic tests. One tests for HIV and syphilis at the same time, while the other tests for hepatitis B surface antigen, which is a marker of hepatitis B infection.
The companies said the tests are supplied together as one commercial package and that the price also includes access to digital training and assessment tools for healthcare workers.
The $1 price does not include freight, local distribution, taxes, regulatory costs or other expenses that may be involved in using the tests. Orders also have a minimum requirement of 100,000 bundles.
Why the Testing Matters
HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B can be passed from a mother to her baby during pregnancy or around childbirth. Early testing gives healthcare professionals an opportunity to identify infections and provide appropriate care.
The World Health Organization recommends that pregnant women be tested for HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B at least once during pregnancy and as early as possible, ideally during the first antenatal care visit.
Nigeria has made efforts to improve testing for these infections as part of its triple elimination programme. The Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare has also said it plans to strengthen hepatitis B testing, treatment and care for pregnant women who test positive.
However, hepatitis B testing during antenatal care remains a challenge.
Data from the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey show that among women who received antenatal care during their most recent pregnancy, 16 per cent were tested for hepatitis B.
This means there is still a large gap between the number of women attending antenatal care and the number receiving hepatitis B testing.
What Could the New Bundle Mean for Nigeria?
According to the companies behind the new package, using the bundle instead of purchasing equivalent HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B rapid tests separately could reduce commodity costs by between 22 and 46 per cent.
Their analysis estimates that the approach could result in about $215 million in commodity savings across 74 low and middle income countries between 2026 and 2035, if it is adopted at the volumes used in their model.
The companies also estimate that the modelled rollout could identify hepatitis B positive pregnancies in about 17.1 million women and potentially help prevent approximately 2.7 million infant hepatitis B infections over the same period.
These figures are projections from the companies’ analysis. They are not confirmed savings or health outcomes for Nigeria. Actual results would depend on factors such as testing uptake, existing procurement prices, hepatitis B prevalence, and whether women who test positive are connected to the recommended care and treatment.
The package is available to public and private sector purchasers in low and middle income countries, subject to national registration, importation and procurement requirements.
The development comes as global health organisations continue to push for better testing during pregnancy. In 2025, the WHO also prequalified a separate bundled set of rapid diagnostic tests capable of detecting HIV, hepatitis B and syphilis, describing the development as a step towards expanding access to testing and supporting efforts to prevent mother to child transmission.
For Nigeria, improving access to testing during antenatal care could help more pregnant women know their health status earlier and receive appropriate care when needed.
Pregnant women should continue to attend antenatal care and discuss the recommended tests with their healthcare provider.
Sources: Premium Times, World Health Organization, and Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
