The World Health Organization is helping countries boost testing capacity for SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. This includes supporting laboratories around the world. Here’s a glimpse at some of that work.
India
healthysoch
New Delhi, November 27, 2020 :
In order to strengthen global diagnostic capacity, in early 2020 a COVID-19 Reference Laboratory Network was established across the six WHO regions. Laboratories with limited experience have been supported by this network.
Within two weeks of WHO learning of the first cases of the novel coronavirus, China shared the genetic sequences with WHO and the wider world. Working with a partner laboratory in Germany, Charité University, WHO then published the first instructions on how to set up a validated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test for this new pathogen. This enabled the roll out of testing around the world at unprecedented speed.
By the third week of January 2020, WHO had contracted the manufacture of reagents and supplies needed for SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests. By late January, WHO began shipping PCR tests to over 150 labs around the world, enabling countries to detect and monitor the virus.
In February, only two laboratories in the WHO African Region could diagnose a COVID-19 case. Now, 750 laboratories across the region can test for the virus. Crucially, testing has been decentralized in many countries, including Benin, Gabon and Nigeria.
Today all 194 Member States can test for SARS-CoV-2.
Demand for tests has exceeded supply and led to international shortages. Amidst reduced flights and a complex web of travel restrictions, procurement and logistics teams from WHO and partners continue to work around the clock to get laboratories the reagents and supplies they need.
As of 9 November 2020, members of the Diagnostics Consortium for COVID-19 had procured 31.1 million tests, of which 23 million have been delivered.
While PCR is the gold standard of SARS-CoV-2 testing, other types of tests have also been developed, including rapid antigen detection tests. These are faster, easier to administer and considerably cheaper. Although they are not a replacement for PCR tests, they can provide an important boost to countries’ testing capacity under the right circumstances.
In October, the Access to COVID-19 Tools (ACT) Accelerator announced that they would make 120 million of these antigen tests available to low and middle income countries.
WHO continues to develop guidance and technical briefs to assist policymakers and laboratories on testing for SARS-CoV-2. And by regularly convening a diagnostics and laboratories global expert network, new knowledge is shared quickly across the globe.
Thanks to our Member States, foundations, other multilateral and private sector organizations and individuals, WHO has been able to support laboratories around the world. You can help by donating to the COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.