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Original Article

Information asymmetry in the Kenyan medical laboratory sector

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Article: 1964172 | Received 07 Apr 2021, Accepted 30 Jul 2021, Published online: 26 Aug 2021

Figures & data

Table 1. Test availability and publicly available information on price and turnaround time (TAT) of tests among clinical laboratories in Kenya, 2019

Figure 1. Comparison of the average test prices of the most common tests among clinical laboratories in Kenya, 2019. The clinical laboratories studied consisted of private stand-alone (N = 3), private-in-facility (N = 4), academic (N = 1), faith-based (N = 2) and public laboratories (N = 3). The tests include Full haemogram (FHG), Haemoglobin test using Hb meter (Hb), Malaria smear, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Random Blood Sugar (RBS), and Urine chemistry. These six tests were selected for this comparison based on the fact that each of the studied laboratories was able to offer them at the time of the survey. The test prices were converted from Kenyan shillings to USD at a rate of KSH 100 for 1 USD

Figure 1. Comparison of the average test prices of the most common tests among clinical laboratories in Kenya, 2019. The clinical laboratories studied consisted of private stand-alone (N = 3), private-in-facility (N = 4), academic (N = 1), faith-based (N = 2) and public laboratories (N = 3). The tests include Full haemogram (FHG), Haemoglobin test using Hb meter (Hb), Malaria smear, Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Random Blood Sugar (RBS), and Urine chemistry. These six tests were selected for this comparison based on the fact that each of the studied laboratories was able to offer them at the time of the survey. The test prices were converted from Kenyan shillings to USD at a rate of KSH 100 for 1 USD

Figure 2. Number of the requested tests among clinical laboratories in Kenya. The tests include; Full haemogram (FHG), Urine chemistry, Malaria smear, Helicobactor pylori Antibodies in blood (H. pylori Ab (Blood)), Syphilis (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test (VDRL)), Blood grouping, S. typhi Antigen Test in blood (SAT) Blood), Human Immunodeficiency Virus Rapid Detection Test (HIV(RDT)), Liver Function Test (LFT), Stool Microscopy, Urea Electrolytes and Creatinine panel (UEC), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Rheumatoid Factor (RF), Random Blood Sugar (RBS), Lipid profile and others. The total number of tests ordered was 371 (n = 371)

Figure 2. Number of the requested tests among clinical laboratories in Kenya. The tests include; Full haemogram (FHG), Urine chemistry, Malaria smear, Helicobactor pylori Antibodies in blood (H. pylori Ab (Blood)), Syphilis (Venereal Disease Research Laboratory test (VDRL)), Blood grouping, S. typhi Antigen Test in blood (SAT) Blood), Human Immunodeficiency Virus Rapid Detection Test (HIV(RDT)), Liver Function Test (LFT), Stool Microscopy, Urea Electrolytes and Creatinine panel (UEC), Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), Rheumatoid Factor (RF), Random Blood Sugar (RBS), Lipid profile and others. The total number of tests ordered was 371 (n = 371)

Figure 3. Criteria used by patients to identify good quality laboratories in Kenya. Each of the 245 respondents only selected one response resulting in 245 responses

Figure 3. Criteria used by patients to identify good quality laboratories in Kenya. Each of the 245 respondents only selected one response resulting in 245 responses

Figure 4. Patients’ feedback on TAT (n = 245). The expected turnaround time (TAT) is the waiting time that the patients guessed initially before we informed them the Actual TAT that the laboratories had provided to the study team

Figure 4. Patients’ feedback on TAT (n = 245). The expected turnaround time (TAT) is the waiting time that the patients guessed initially before we informed them the Actual TAT that the laboratories had provided to the study team