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Rapid, Cheap, and Effective COVID-19 Diagnostics for Africa
Lukman Yusuf1, Mark Appeaning2,3, Taiwo Gboluwaga Amole4,5
1Department of Medical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences, Bayero University Kano, Kano 700233, Nigeria.
Diagnostics (Basel, Switzerland)
|November 27, 2021
Summary
Alternative COVID-19 diagnostic tests like rapid antigen and antibody assays offer feasible solutions for African nations. These methods address the high cost and under-diagnosis challenges associated with reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing in low-income countries.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Molecular Diagnostics
- Public Health
Background:
- COVID-19 diagnosis remains a challenge in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) due to the high cost of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).
- Under-diagnosis of COVID-19 is prevalent in Africa, hindering effective disease management and requiring accessible diagnostic tools.
- Precision shielding strategies for COVID-19 necessitate accurate estimates of infection rates, particularly in vulnerable populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the feasibility of alternative diagnostic assays for COVID-19 in African populations.
- To evaluate molecular, rapid antigen, and serological tests as alternatives to RT-PCR for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) detection.
- To address the challenges of SARS-CoV-2 RT-PCR diagnostics in the African context.
Main Methods:
- A literature review of publications from Medline, Google Scholar, and Ajol was conducted.
- The search focused on English-language primary literature and review articles on SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics.
- Current trends in SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics in Africa and globally were analyzed.
Main Results:
- Four alternative diagnostic methods to RT-PCR were identified: loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP), recombinase polymerase amplification (RPA), rapid antigen testing, and antibody testing.
- These assays demonstrate utility in overcoming the limitations of RT-PCR for SARS-CoV-2 detection in Africa.
- Isothermal nucleic acid amplification assays (LAMP and RPA) offer promising alternatives for molecular diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- The economic burden of widespread RT-PCR testing for COVID-19 is unsustainable for many low-income nations.
- Alternative diagnostic assays are crucial for improving COVID-19 detection rates and management in Africa and other LMICs.
- The deployment of rapid antigen and antibody tests, alongside isothermal amplification methods, is recommended for accessible COVID-19 diagnosis in resource-limited settings.
