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A report on preparation, expansion and future outlook of COVID-19 testing in Gambia
Ousman Secka1, Eniyou C Oriero1, Sheikh Jarju1
1Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at LSHTM, Atlantic Road, Fajara, Gambia.
Insights
The Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia (MRCG) rapidly implemented COVID-19 molecular testing, establishing a daily capacity of 350 tests. This rapid response helped delay community transmission of the virus in The Gambia.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
- Molecular Diagnostics
Background:
- The global outbreak of COVID-19 led to its declaration as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern.
- Early interventions focused on laboratory diagnosis, screening, and border restrictions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To report the role of the Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia (MRCG) in early COVID-19 molecular testing.
- To detail the MRCG's contribution to The Gambia's national outbreak response.
Main Methods:
- Training laboratory staff on COVID-19 testing through an Africa CDC workshop.
- Developing risk assessments and standard operating procedures (SOPs).
- Implementing testing using commercial RT-PCR kits and expanding capacity to field sites.
Main Results:
- Established COVID-19 testing capacity at MRCG, processing approximately 350 tests daily.
- Scalable testing capacity to meet increasing demand.
- Expanded testing to the National Public Health Laboratory and field sites.
Conclusions:
- MRCG's established presence and collaboration with the Ministry of Health facilitated a synergistic response.
- The implemented testing strategy contributed to delaying community transmission of COVID-19 in The Gambia.
Background:
The outbreak of COVID-19 disease and rapid spread of the virus outside China led to its declaration as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) in January 2020. Key elements of the early intervention strategy focused on laboratory diagnosis and screening at points of entry and imposition of restrictions in crossborder activities.
Objective:
We report the role the Medical Research Council Unit, The Gambia (MRCG) played in the early implementation of molecular testing for COVID-19 in The Gambia as part of the national outbreak response.
Methods:
Laboratory staff members, with experience in molecular biology assays, were identified and trained on COVID-19 testing at the Africa CDC training workshop in Dakar, Senegal. Thereafter risks assessments, drafting of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and inhouse training enabled commencement of testing using commercial RTPCR kits. Subsequently, testing was expanded to the National Public Health Laboratroy and also implemented across field sites for rapid response across the country.
Results:
Capacity for COVID-19 testing at MRCG was developed and can process aproximately 350 tests per day, which can be further scaled up as the demand for testing increases.
Conclusion:
The long presence of the Unit in The Gambia and strong collaborative relationship with the National Health Ministry, allowed for a synergistc approach in mounting an effective response that contributed in delaying the establishment of community transmission in the country.
