Kato-Katz Analysis Technique for Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH)
In last October's newsletter, Sterlitech announced the availability of kits for performing the Kato-Katz analysis technique for Soil-Transmitted Helminthiasis (STH) in field-based applications, signifying the first time that these kits were available from a source in the United States. Prior to this, the efforts of research groups and health organizations could be hampered by limited availability. Recognizing the global health need, Sterlitech developed the kits to ensure a consistent and reliable supply. We are pleased to announce that, in less than a year, Sterlitech has already supplied enough Kato-Katz Kits to perform 87,000 diagnostic tests.
The Kato-Katz Kits are used to identify and enumerate parasitic eggs in feces samples from at-risk individual. The testing enables clinicians and field scientists to diagnose infection by the parasitic worms that cause intestinal schistosomiasis and STH. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), schistosomiasis is endemic in 58 countries across Africa, Asia, and South America, putting over 700 million people at risk for infection. The WHO estimates in excess of 240 million persons are already infected and, of those, several million have severe morbidity from advanced disease resulting in over 200,000 deaths per year. STH is even more prevalent, with the WHO estimating that fully 24% of the world's population, or 1.5 billion people, are infected in the tropical and subtropical regions of the Americas, Africa, and Asia. These diseases are particularly insidious because they predominantly affect the poor in underdeveloped areas lacking modern sanitation.
The WHO's strategy for these diseases primarily relies on mass treatment of high risk populations with deworming medications. While it may not be practical, or economically prudent, to perform diagnostic testing on each treated individual, strategic diagnostic testing of sentinel groups using the Kato-Katz technique is critical for identifying high-risk populations and monitoring treatment effectiveness. Sterlitech is committed to supporting these efforts.
Included in each Kato-Katz kit are the materials necessary for performing 500 tests. The entire kit is contained in a small portable box for easy use in field hospitals and clinics, enabling medical staff to diagnose infection in remote locations. Sterlitech also offers Schistosome Test Kits that are used to detect schistosome eggs in urine as part of the detection of urogenital schistosomiasis.
Sterlitech Corp.
22027 70th Ave. S.
Kent, WA 98032-1911
Phone: 253-437-0844
Contact:
Sterlitech Corporation
Sales Department
email: sales@sterlitech.com
