The World Health Organisation (WHO) is working closely with African countries to start rolling out new antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests for the novel coronavirus.
These rapid tests are expected to improve the current testing process in African countries — described by the WHO as a “game changer” for tackling the pandemic in Africa. They are easier to use and cheaper than the polymerase chain reaction tests (PCR tests) that are currently being used in most countries.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) is working closely with African countries to start rolling out new antigen-based rapid diagnostic tests for the novel coronavirus.
These rapid tests are expected to improve the current testing process in African countries — described by the WHO as a “game changer” for tackling the pandemic in Africa. They are easier to use and cheaper than the polymerase chain reaction tests (PCR tests) that are currently being used in most countries.
According to All Africa, many African countries have struggled to test enough people in order to control the pandemic in their region. In the past month some countries were reportedly only able to carry out an average of 10 tests per 10,000 people each week.
All Africa also reported that a few African countries have not tested in the same capacity as other countries of a similar size. For example, while Senegal has significantly boosted its testing capacity, the country is testing 14 times less than the Netherlands. Nigeria is testing 11 times less than Brazil.
The new WHO-approved rapid tests are not a replacement for the PCR tests, but rather an addition to them. The test will be more effective when used on patients who show symptoms, those who have a high viral load, or a high concentration of the virus in their upper respiratory tract.
