tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Global Health
. 2022 Jan 22;18(1):5.
doi: 10.1186/s12992-022-00796-7.
The challenges of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing in low-middle income countries and possible cost-effective measures in resource-limited settings
Zamathombeni Duma[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Anil A Chuturgoon[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Veron Ramsuran[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Vinodh Edward[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Pragalathan Naidoo[SUP] 4 6 [/SUP], Miranda N Mpaka-Mbatha[SUP] 4 6 7 [/SUP], Khethiwe N Bhengu[SUP] 4 6 7 [/SUP], Nomzamo Nembe[SUP] 4 6 [/SUP], Roxanne Pillay[SUP] 4 6 7 [/SUP], Ravesh Singh[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Zilungile L Mkhize-Kwitshana[SUP] 4 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Diagnostic testing for the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection remains a challenge around the world, especially in low-middle-income countries (LMICs) with poor socio-economic backgrounds. From the beginning of the pandemic in December 2019 to August 2021, a total of approximately 3.4 billion tests were performed globally. The majority of these tests were restricted to high income countries. Reagents for diagnostic testing became a premium, LMICs either cannot afford or find manufacturers unwilling to supply them with expensive analytical reagents and equipment. From March to December 2020 obtaining testing kits for SARS-CoV-2 testing was a challenge. As the number of SARS-CoV-2 infection cases increases globally, large-scale testing still remains a challenge in LMICs. The aim of this review paper is to compare the total number and frequencies of SARS-CoV-2 testing in LMICs and high-income countries (HICs) using publicly available data from Worldometer COVID-19, as well as discussing possible interventions and cost-effective measures to increase testing capability in LMICs. In summary, HICs conducted more SARS-CoV-2 testing (USA: 192%, Australia: 146%, Switzerland: 124% and Canada: 113%) compared to middle-income countries (MICs) (Vietnam: 43%, South Africa: 29%, Brazil: 27% and Venezuela: 12%) and low-income countries (LICs) (Bangladesh: 6%, Uganda: 4% and Nigeria: 1%). Some of the cost-effective solutions to counteract the aforementioned problems includes using saliva instead of oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal swabs, sample pooling, and testing high-priority groups to increase the number of mass testing in LMICs.
Keywords: Cost-effective strategies; Diagnostic testing challenges; Low-middle-income countries; Resource-limited settings; SARS-CoV-2.
. 2022 Jan 22;18(1):5.
doi: 10.1186/s12992-022-00796-7.
The challenges of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing in low-middle income countries and possible cost-effective measures in resource-limited settings
Zamathombeni Duma[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Anil A Chuturgoon[SUP] 3 [/SUP], Veron Ramsuran[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Vinodh Edward[SUP] 5 [/SUP], Pragalathan Naidoo[SUP] 4 6 [/SUP], Miranda N Mpaka-Mbatha[SUP] 4 6 7 [/SUP], Khethiwe N Bhengu[SUP] 4 6 7 [/SUP], Nomzamo Nembe[SUP] 4 6 [/SUP], Roxanne Pillay[SUP] 4 6 7 [/SUP], Ravesh Singh[SUP] 4 [/SUP], Zilungile L Mkhize-Kwitshana[SUP] 4 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 35065670
- DOI: 10.1186/s12992-022-00796-7
Abstract
Diagnostic testing for the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection remains a challenge around the world, especially in low-middle-income countries (LMICs) with poor socio-economic backgrounds. From the beginning of the pandemic in December 2019 to August 2021, a total of approximately 3.4 billion tests were performed globally. The majority of these tests were restricted to high income countries. Reagents for diagnostic testing became a premium, LMICs either cannot afford or find manufacturers unwilling to supply them with expensive analytical reagents and equipment. From March to December 2020 obtaining testing kits for SARS-CoV-2 testing was a challenge. As the number of SARS-CoV-2 infection cases increases globally, large-scale testing still remains a challenge in LMICs. The aim of this review paper is to compare the total number and frequencies of SARS-CoV-2 testing in LMICs and high-income countries (HICs) using publicly available data from Worldometer COVID-19, as well as discussing possible interventions and cost-effective measures to increase testing capability in LMICs. In summary, HICs conducted more SARS-CoV-2 testing (USA: 192%, Australia: 146%, Switzerland: 124% and Canada: 113%) compared to middle-income countries (MICs) (Vietnam: 43%, South Africa: 29%, Brazil: 27% and Venezuela: 12%) and low-income countries (LICs) (Bangladesh: 6%, Uganda: 4% and Nigeria: 1%). Some of the cost-effective solutions to counteract the aforementioned problems includes using saliva instead of oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal swabs, sample pooling, and testing high-priority groups to increase the number of mass testing in LMICs.
Keywords: Cost-effective strategies; Diagnostic testing challenges; Low-middle-income countries; Resource-limited settings; SARS-CoV-2.