Rapid Diagnostic Testing and Healthcare Accessibility in Rural Bundelkhand: A Case Study from Uttar Pradesh, India
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Abstract
Background: Rural healthcare systems in resource-limited regions face significant challenges in disease diagnostics and timely testing.
Objective: This study evaluates rapid diagnostic testing practices and disease testing trends in selected villages of the Banda district, Bundelkhand region, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Methods: Survey-based observational data were collected from July to October 2022 from a pathology center serving nearby gram panchayat villages. Diagnostic trends for malaria, dengue, HIV, HBsAg, HCV, and COVID-19 were analyzed.
Results: Malaria testing represented the largest diagnostic burden during the monsoon season. Rapid antigen card methods improved accessibility and turnaround time in rural settings, though throughput remained limited.
Conclusion: Point-of-care rapid diagnostics can improve disease screening and healthcare accessibility in underserved rural regions; however, integration with reliable sample preparation and validation systems remains necessary.
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Copyright (c) 2026 Khatoon S, et al.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
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