The first rapid test for Ebola has been approved by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

The kit, which has been developed in the United States, does not need electricity, and can give a result in 15 minutes.

It is hoped it could help to bring the Ebola epidemic in West Africa to an end - although the rollout of the test is not expected to begin immediately.

"Quality diagnostics are vital if we are to contain and reverse the epidemic," said Marie-Paule Kieny, WHO assistant director-general for health systems and innovation.

"They allow medical staff to make important decisions about treatment, isolation and other considerations in order to care for patients suspected of being infected, and protect healthy people from exposure."

In response to the Ebola epidemic, the WHO in September established a new emergency mechanism for quickly assessing the quality of Ebola-specific in-vitro diagnostic tests (IVDs).

This emergency assessment procedure takes into consideration special circumstances of the epidemic, and the unique needs of the epidemic areas.