Rapid test kit buying guide
How to Choose Rapid Test Kits in Kenya
A practical guide for clinics, pharmacies, labs and programs: what to check on every kit, which kits to stock, and how many boxes to order.
How to choose rapid test kits in Kenya: quick answer
Pick the test by the infection and the sample you can collect. Then check five things on every kit: Pharmacy and Poisons Board registration, WHO prequalification for HIV, malaria, hepatitis and syphilis kits, sensitivity and specificity on the insert, storage temperature, and expiry date. Order enough boxes for your monthly volume plus a 10% buffer. Rapid Test Kits Kenya in Nairobi helps buyers choose on WhatsApp 0791371374.
Buyer checklist
7 Checks Before You Buy Rapid Test Kits
Use this list for any kit, any brand.
| Check | Why it matters | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Registration | Kenyan rules bar the import or sale of unregistered health products | Ask the supplier for the Pharmacy and Poisons Board registration |
| WHO prequalification | WHO assesses HIV, malaria, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis tests for quality and performance | WHO list of prequalified in vitro diagnostics |
| Sensitivity and specificity | Show how often the kit catches true positives and avoids false positives | Kit insert (package leaflet) |
| Sample type | Fingerprick blood, serum, plasma, urine, stool or swab. Match it to what your facility can collect | Kit insert and box |
| Read time | Results read outside the window are not valid | Kit insert |
| Storage temperature | Heat and humidity damage kits. Check the range before storing in a hot room or vehicle | Box label |
| Expiry and box size | Order only what you can use before expiry. Box size sets your cost per test | Box label. Confirm with the supplier |
Decision table
Which Rapid Test Kits Does Your Facility Need?
Common starting ranges by buyer type. Adjust to your patients and programs.
| Buyer | Start with | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Outpatient clinic | Malaria, HIV, pregnancy, H. pylori, urine strips | Malaria kits, H. pylori kits |
| Antenatal clinic | HIV/Syphilis Duo, HBsAg, pregnancy, urine strips | Duo kits, Hepatitis kits |
| VCT centre or NGO | HIV 1/2, duo, syphilis | HIV kits, Bulk supply |
| Hospital or lab | HBsAg, HCV, H. pylori, malaria, urine strips, COVID-19 | Hepatitis kits, COVID-19 kits |
| Pharmacy | Pregnancy, malaria, H. pylori, drug tests | Pharmacy wholesale |
| Workplace, school or rehab | Multi-panel drug tests | Drug test kits |
| Medical camp | Malaria, HIV, HBsAg, HCV, pregnancy, urine strips | Bulk supply |
Stock calculator
How Many Boxes of Test Kits Do You Need?
Enter your expected tests per day and the box size. The calculator adds a safety buffer and rounds up to whole boxes.
Rules for rapid test kits in Kenya
The Pharmacy and Poisons (Registration of Health Products and Technologies) Rules, 2022 bar the import, manufacture or sale of a health product or technology in Kenya unless it is registered. The rules define in-vitro diagnostic medical devices and set registration fees for medical devices. In 2025 the High Court ruled that the Kenya Medical Laboratory Technicians and Technologists Board does not have authority to regulate or validate medical devices sold in Kenya.
Storage and stock rotation
- Store kits within the temperature range printed on the box. Keep them out of direct sun and hot vehicles.
- Sell or use the oldest batch first, and check expiry dates when stock arrives.
- Open foil pouches only when you are ready to test.
How to order
- Use the calculator to work out your boxes.
- WhatsApp or call 0791371374 with the kits, quantities and your town.
- Get the brands in stock, today's price and the delivery time.
Sources: Kenya Law, Pharmacy and Poisons (Registration of Health Products and Technologies) Rules, 2022; WHO, Prequalified in vitro diagnostics; Business Daily, Court rules lab regulator lacks power over test kit imports (June 2025).
Get today's price on WhatsApp
Send the kit, quantity and your town. The team replies with brands, price and delivery time.
FAQ
Buying Guide: Questions Buyers Ask
How do I choose the right rapid test kit?
Match the test to the infection and the sample you can collect. Then check registration, WHO prequalification where it applies, sensitivity and specificity, storage temperature and expiry.
Do rapid test kits need registration in Kenya?
Yes. The Pharmacy and Poisons Board registration rules bar the import or sale of unregistered health products and technologies, and they cover in-vitro diagnostic medical devices.
What does WHO prequalification mean for a test kit?
WHO has assessed the kit for quality, safety and performance. WHO keeps a public list of prequalified HIV, malaria, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis tests.
How many test kits should a clinic order?
Multiply tests per day by working days and months of stock, add a buffer of about 10%, then divide by the tests per box. The calculator on this page does it for you.
Where can I buy rapid test kits in Nairobi?
Order from Rapid Test Kits Kenya. WhatsApp or call 0791371374 with the kits and quantities. We deliver within Nairobi and dispatch to all counties.
