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Background: Kenya is a high hepatitis B virus (HBV) endemic zone. Prevention of HBV transmission by transfusing safe blood is necessary. Kits for screening hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) are usually imported and are expensive. Hence it has been difficult to screen donated and patient blood samples all over Kenya., Objective: To produce a HBsAg screening kit locally in order to be able to screen donated and patient blood samples all over Kenya., Design: A laboratory based study., Setting: Centre for Virus Research (CVR), Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI), Nairobi., Method: Purified HBsAg from plasma of carriers obtained from National Public Health Laboratories Services (NPHLS) was used to minimise guinea pigs to produce antihepatitis B (anti HBs) antibody. The anti HBs was then used to sensitise sheep red blood cells (SRBC). The final product was freeze dried (lyophilised) and its sensitivity and specificity was compared with other commercial kits., Results: The sensitivity and specificity of KEMRI Hep-cell II was found to be 98% and 99%, respectively. The kit was found to be stable and potent for one year whether kept 4 degrees C, 37 degrees C or room temperature., Conclusion: KEMRI Hep-cell II was successfully produced locally. The sensitivity and specificity were comparable to other commercial kits. The kit was stable and potent for one year between temperature of 4 degrees C and 37 degrees C. The kit required only simple apparatus to carry out the test hence it can be used anywhere in Kenya. It was also cheap and affordable.

Objective: To determine the efficacy and safety of hepaccine B., Design: Vaccination on first-come-first-served basis., Setting: Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) staff and families at Nairobi, Kenya., Participants: A total of 107 vaccinees aged 0-10 years and 10 years and above., Main Outcome: Antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (anti HBs) checked one month after the third dose of the vaccine., Results: Ninety seven per cent of the vaccinees developed antiHBs. Side effects were few in the form of soreness at site of injection and headache., Conclusion: Hepaccine B produced good immune response in vaccinees with minimal side effects.