Hospitals Introduce Faster Lab Testing Technology

Hospitals in Kenya are making major strides in diagnostic speed and accuracy with the deployment of cutting-edge laboratory technology. At Aga Khan University Hospital, Nairobi, the microbiology lab has installed the Vitek MS Prime system from bioMérieux — a MALDI‑TOF platform that identifies bacteria, fungi, and yeast in just 30 minutes, a game-changer compared to the previous 8–18 hour turnaround. This rapid identification allows doctors to target infections more precisely, reducing unnecessary antibiotic use and helping curb antimicrobial resistance.
Beyond pathogen detection, the hospital has also automated its entire lab workflow with a Total Lab Automation (TLA) system from Roche Diagnostics, making AKUH the first in East Africa to run a fully automated lab. The system integrates all phases — from sample loading and sorting to analysis and archiving — which cuts down on manual work, reduces errors, and improves turnaround times.
In Nakuru County Referral and Teaching Hospital, similar advancements are underway. Its lab is now using the Atellica Solution system, powered by automation and artificial intelligence, to process over 700,000 tests per year, including complex assays like cardiac, liver, and kidney function tests. With the new system, patients receive their results in about one hour, greatly reducing delays and improving diagnostic accuracy.