Utilizing rapid diagnostic tests in infectious disease surveillance and response in humanitarian emergencies

As of 2024, approximately 2 billion people live in conflict-affected regions worldwide, with an estimated 108 million forcibly displaced. Populations affected by humanitarian emergencies (HEs) are at increased risk of outbreaks of epidemic-prone diseases and significant morbidity and mortality. In these settings, access to laboratory diagnostic capabilities may be limited or challenging. Rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) represent an essential modality for ensuring timely diagnostic testing to differentiate among infectious diseases and respond with appropriate treatment in HEs. A general landscape review of RDTs for operational use for infectious disease surveillance and response in these settings is warranted.

We reviewed white and gray literature to explore the availability, technical characteristics, and operational strengths and weaknesses of RDTs available for the diagnosis of selected epidemic-prone infectious diseases in HEs. We documented planned development of RDTs. Finally, we reflect on how barriers to more widespread use of RDTs in HEs could be addressed, along with potential complementary use of other near point-of-care testing, to guide infectious disease diagnosis in HEs.

Low-cost, easy to use, and accurate RDTs for epidemic-prone diseases are an integral component of infectious disease surveillance, outbreak detection, and response efforts in HEs. Field evaluations specifically in HEs, continued work to attain WHO pre-qualification, and country-level planning on operational use of RDTs are important to increasing the use of RDTs for infectious diseases in HEs.