Rapid, Cheap, and Effective COVID-19 Diagnostics for Africa
Abstract
:1. Introduction
2. Laboratory Diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2
3. Limitations of RT-PCR Testing
4. Constraints to COVID-19 Mass Testing by RT-PCR
4.1. Finance and Infrastructure
4.2. Turn-Around-Time for Report
5. Alternate Molecular Testing Methods for COVID-19
5.1. Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification
5.2. Recombinase Polymerase Amplification
6. SARS-CoV-2 Antigen Testing as Alternative to RT-PCR Testing
7. Serological Testing as Alternative to SARS-CoV-2 PCR Testing
Evaluation and Validation of Rapid Diagnostic Test
8. The Value and Recommendations on the Usage of Serological Test
9. Discussion
10. Conclusions
Author Contributions
Funding
Conflicts of Interest
References
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Test | Strength | Limitations | Time of Analysis | Cost (USD) |
---|---|---|---|---|
RT-PCR | High sensitivity and specificity | Requires expertise | 4 h | 300–6700 |
LAMP | High sensitivity and specificity, and a shorter turnaround time | Requires expertise | 25 min | 230–1550 |
Rcombinase Polymerase Amplification | High sensitivity and specificity, and a shorter turnaround time | Requires expertise | 20 min | 270 |
Antigen-RDT | Faster turnaround time and does not require expertise | Lower sensitivity | 15 min | 3–75 |
Antibody-RDT | Faster turnaround time and does not require expertise | Lower sensitivity | 15 min | 2.50–75 |
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Yusuf, L.; Appeaning, M.; Amole, T.G.; Musa, B.M.; Galadanci, H.S.; Quashie, P.K.; Aliyu, I.A. Rapid, Cheap, and Effective COVID-19 Diagnostics for Africa. Diagnostics 2021, 11, 2105. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11112105
Yusuf L, Appeaning M, Amole TG, Musa BM, Galadanci HS, Quashie PK, Aliyu IA. Rapid, Cheap, and Effective COVID-19 Diagnostics for Africa. Diagnostics. 2021; 11(11):2105. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11112105
Chicago/Turabian StyleYusuf, Lukman, Mark Appeaning, Taiwo Gboluwaga Amole, Baba Maiyaki Musa, Hadiza Shehu Galadanci, Peter Kojo Quashie, and Isah Abubakar Aliyu. 2021. "Rapid, Cheap, and Effective COVID-19 Diagnostics for Africa" Diagnostics 11, no. 11: 2105. https://doi.org/10.3390/diagnostics11112105