The role of testing in the fight against COVID-19: Current happenings in Africa and the way forward.
Africa
Assay
Laboratory
RT-PCR
SARS-CoV-2
Serological
Test kits
Journal
International journal of infectious diseases : IJID : official publication of the International Society for Infectious Diseases
ISSN: 1878-3511
Titre abrégé: Int J Infect Dis
Pays: Canada
ID NLM: 9610933
Informations de publication
Date de publication:
Sep 2020
Sep 2020
Historique:
received:
14
04
2020
revised:
23
06
2020
accepted:
25
06
2020
pubmed:
4
7
2020
medline:
22
9
2020
entrez:
4
7
2020
Statut:
ppublish
Résumé
The dramatic increase in suspected COVID-19 cases in Africa has placed an enormous burden on public and private clinical facilities. To date, the most commonly used method for identifying and confirming the virus is the laboratory-based reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) test. Unfortunately, testing capacities have been limited in many parts of Africa because of inadequate test kits, which have restricted scaling up beyond the few public health laboratories at designated locations. In this mini-review, we present Africa's preparedness and readiness for testing, why testing is crucial, the need to immediately strengthen existing facilities, and what it involves as part of combined approaches for managing the COVID-19 crisis. The review highlights the urgent need for speedy expansion and distribution of several laboratory testing platforms, including real-time PCR and serological assays to both public health facilities and fully accredited private clinical laboratories.
Identifiants
pubmed: 32619756
pii: S1201-9712(20)30525-7
doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2020.06.089
pmc: PMC7326437
pii:
doi:
Types de publication
Journal Article
Review
Langues
eng
Sous-ensembles de citation
IM
Pagination
237-240Informations de copyright
Copyright © 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.
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