The World Health Organization announced Monday that it and key partners have worked with low- and middle-income countries to form the basis for testing differences with richer and richer countries. Million has agreed to a plan to conduct rapid diagnostic tests - although it has not yet’ been fully funded.
At $ 5, the antigen-based
rapid diagnostic test, for which the WHO released an emergency use listing last
week, requires an initial 600 600 million in the program and early next month.
To provide better access to areas that are difficult to reach. With PCR, test
which is often used’ in many rich countries.
Faster tests look for
antigens, or proteins found on the surface of the virus. They are generally
considered’ less accurate - albeit much faster - than advanced genetic tests,
known as PCR tests. These tests require processing with special lab equipment
and chemicals. It usually takes several days for the results to reach the
patients.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom
Ghebreyesus called the program "good news" in the fight against
cowardice.
"These tests provide
reliable results in at least 15 or 30 minutes on the lowest equipment at the
lowest cost, rather than hours or days," he said. "This will enable
the expansion of testing, especially in remote areas where there are no lab
facilities or not enough trained health workers to perform PCR tests."
"We have a contract, we
have seed funding and now we need full money to buy these tests," he said
without elaborating.
Dr. Catharina Boehme, chief
executive of the non-profit group Foundation for Modern New Assessment said
the rollout would take place in 20 African countries and would rely on the
support of groups, including the Clinton Health Access Initiative. He said that
SD Biosensor and Abbott will provide diagnostic tests.
Peter Sands, executive
director of the World Fund, a partnership working to eradicate epidemics, said
it would provide an initial 50 million for its COVID-19 response mechanism. He
said the deployment of standard antigen rapid diagnostic tests would be an
"important step" in helping to control and combat the coronavirus.
"These are not silver
tablets, but they are extremely valuable as an addition to PCR tests, although
they are less accurate, but they are much faster, cheaper and do not require a
lab," he said.
Many rich countries have also
had difficulty verifying, and this is not a cure in itself. Countries like
France and the United States have all experienced backlash and hiccups at
times, and tests in Britain and Spain have quickly turned out to be wrong.
But testing in poorer
countries aim to help healthcare workers better grasp the spread of the virus.
High-income countries are
currently taking 292 tests a day for every 100,000 people - Sands said - while
14 of every 100,000 people in the lowest-income countries are being’ tested.
He said the 120 million tests
would represent a "massive increase" in testing, but that there was
part of the need in those countries.
READ MORE
