How KNUST Researcher and Biomedical Scientist, Stephen Opoku is leading efforts to rapid COVID-19 diagnostics in Ghana

As Ghana continues its fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, a Researcher and Biomedical Scientist, Stephen Opoku is emerging as a key player in advancing the country's diagnostic capabilities.

Amid the ongoing global health crisis, Stephen’s innovative work is helping to address the need for quicker and more accessible testing, providing a critical boost to Ghana’s healthcare response.

Stephen Opoku’s journey is defined by a continuous pursuit of knowledge and a series of notable accomplishments. He graduated with a first-class degree in Medical Laboratory Technology from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) where he demonstrated outstanding academic and research excellence.

He is currently a Biomedical Scientist at the Kumasi Center for Collaborative Research in Tropical Medicine (KCCR) where he has been a frontliner in COVID-19 testing since the emergence of the deadly virus.

At KCCR, Stephen is contributing to tackling the current pandemic by setting up Biosafety Labs and preparing COVID-19 testing guidelines. He is also serving as a Research Assistant at the Department of Molecular Medicine, KNUST, where he is actively leading the research that is developing rapid COVID-19 diagnostics for rural communities.

With the third wave of COVID-19 cases sweeping through several countries, Ghana has been grappling with the urgent need to expand testing capacity, particularly in rural areas with limited access to healthcare infrastructure.

Recognizing the significant delay and limited infrastructure ineffective COVID-19 testing results, Stephen Opoku’s work has focused on developing rapid tests that can be deployed quickly in the field, bypassing the need for complex laboratory equipment.

His research has discovered and tested a new diagnostic approach called the RT-LAMP Assay, which has demonstrated 97% accuracy in a large cohort. His innovation will not only improve the detection rates but also curb the spread of the virus. Explaining the rapid test, Stephen said “RT-LAMP Assay is very simple and do not require the use of complex machines. The result is based on color change from red (which means negative) to green (positive). It is easy to do, inexpensive and can deliver accurate results in less than an hour”.

His work is conducted in collaboration with Ministry of Health in Ghana and international organizations, has been important in ensuring that testing kits are available in more remote regions, where access to healthcare services is scarce.

Stephen’s leadership in this field of diagnostics serves as a beacon of hope not just for Ghana but for other countries facing similar challenges. As the pandemic continues to evolve, Stephen Opoku remains at the forefront of research and rapid response, working to ensure that Ghana and its neighboring nations are better prepared to meet the challenges ahead.