1. Rapid Diagnostic Kits identify, confirm or rule out disease in symptomatic patients.

2. Rapid tests can be used to accurately prescribe therapeutic drugs and to monitor treatment.

3. These tests are ideal to detect and monitor the incidence or prevalence of disease in evaluating health programs.

4. Tests are highly accurate and simple to use (require minimal facilities, equipment, or training); low-cost or cost-effective; easily interpretable; and stable when stored under extreme conditions.

Fast, precise, & robust diagnostics to enable pathogen-specific treatment of infectious diseases at the earliest detectable stage

5. In low-resource settings, the ability to provide test results rapidly to the patient is important, since many patients do not return for their test results.

6. Tests can be done in the privacy of your own bathroom, using a few drops of blood or a urine sample.

7. Many screening kits require little or no processing and are culturally acceptable.