New Diagnostic Test Dramatically Improves Chikungunya Detection in West Africa
A groundbreaking new diagnostic system developed by researchers at the Institut Pasteur de Dakar (IPD) promises to significantly improve the detection of Chikungunya virus, particularly among West African genotypes. The innovation addresses a critical flaw in widely used global tests that have proven less effective at identifying local strains, potentially leading to underdiagnosis and increased public health risk.
Dakar, Senegal – On Tuesday, July 8, 2025, researchers at the IPD announced the development of “Chikv Altodesign,” a molecular diagnostic system boasting a sensitivity 100 times greater than current standard tests. This advancement comes after studies revealed existing tests frequently failed to detect the virus in significant viral loads present in local populations, as detailed in research published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology (https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.00405-24).
Addressing a Critical Gap in Global Diagnostics
The existing, globally utilized diagnostic test demonstrated reduced performance when analyzing strains of the Chikungunya virus prevalent in West Africa, including those circulating in Senegal as recently as 2023. This deficiency exposed communities to the danger of false negatives, hindering effective disease management and control.
“The test failed to detect local strains at viral load levels, however significant, thus exposing populations at an increased risk of false negative,” a senior researcher explained.
Chikv Altodesign: A Local Solution to a Global Challenge
In response to this critical gap, the IPD team developed Chikv Altodesign, specifically optimized to recognize the West African genotype of the virus. The new system can detect the virus at a remarkably low concentration of 321 plaque-forming units (pfu), compared to the 32,100 PFUs required for detection by the reference test.
Notably, Chikv Altodesign maintains the ability to simultaneously detect dengue and Zika viruses, offering a comprehensive diagnostic tool for regions where these viruses co-circulate. Further details on this innovation are available in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology (https://doi.org/10.1128/jcm.00490-25).
Strengthening Health Sovereignty in Africa
The development of Chikv Altodesign represents a major step forward for public health in Africa, enabling faster, more reliable, and locally relevant disease detection. Dr. Ibrahima Socé Fall, general administrator of the Institut Pasteur de Dakar, emphasized the significance of this achievement.
“This advance, carried by our team, fully illustrates the mission of the Institut Pasteur de Dakar: developing innovative solutions, designed in Africa, to meet the needs of African populations and beyond,” he stated. “It confirms the importance of a firmly rooted scientific research, essential to permanently strengthen the health sovereignty of our continent.”
Dr. Idrissa Dieng, the project principal, added, “Chikv Altodesign is a local scientific response to a global issue. It illustrates Africa’s ability to produce advanced solutions for its own public health challenges.”
About the Institut Pasteur de Dakar
Founded in 1924, the Institut Pasteur de Dakar is a Senegalese non-profit foundation dedicated to accelerating access to fair, sustainable, and affordable health solutions for Senegal, Africa, and the world. The IPD provides healthcare and laboratory services, conducts advanced biomedical research, manufactures essential vaccines and diagnostics, develops human capital, and engages in public health activities including epidemiological monitoring and epidemic response. More information can be found at www.institutpasteurdakar.sn or by contacting +221 33 839 92 00 at 36 avenue Pasteur, BP 220, Dakar, Senegal.
