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Review
. 2020 Sep 30;9(1):1255.
doi: 10.4102/ajlm.v9i1.1255. eCollection 2020.

COVID-19 rapid diagnostic test could contain transmission in low- and middle-income countries

Adesola Olalekan  1   2 , Bamidele Iwalokun  2   3 , Oluwabukola M Akinloye  4 , Olayiwola Popoola  1   2 , Titilola A Samuel  2   5 , Oluyemi Akinloye  1   2   3
Affiliations
Review

COVID-19 rapid diagnostic test could contain transmission in low- and middle-income countries

Adesola Olalekan et al. Afr J Lab Med. .

Abstract

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) has impacted heavily on global health. Although real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) is the current diagnostic method, challenges for low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) necessitate cheaper, higher-throughput, reliable rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs).

Objective: We reviewed the documented performance characteristics of available COVID-19 RDTs to understand their public health utility in the ongoing pandemic, especially in resource-scarce LMIC settings.

Methods: Using a scoping review methodology framework, common literature databases and documentary reports were searched up to 22 April 2020, irrespective of geographical location. The search terms included 'SARS-CoV-2 AND serological testing' and 'COVID-19 AND serological testing'.

Results: A total of 18 RDTs produced in eight countries, namely China (6; 33.33%), the United States (4; 22.22%), Germany (2; 11.11%), Singapore (2; 11.11%), Canada, Kenya, Korea and Belgium (1 each; 5.56%), were evaluated. Reported sensitivity ranged from 18.4% to 100% (average = 84.7%), whereas specificity ranged from 90.6% to 100% (average = 95.6%). The testing time ranged from 2 min to 30 min. Of the 12 validated RDTs, the IgM/IgG duo kit with non-colloidal gold labelling system was reported to elicit the highest sensitivity (98% - 100%) and specificity (98% - 99% for IgG and 96% - 99% for IgM).

Conclusion: We found reports of high sensitivity and specificity among the developed RDTs that could complement RT-PCR for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antibodies, especially for screening in LMICs. However, it is necessary to validate these kits locally.

Keywords: COVID-19; Coronavirus disease; SARS-CoV-2; low- and middle-income countries; rapid diagnostic test.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interest exists.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Distribution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 burden and test per population in selected African countries.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
PRISMA flow diagram showing the scoping review process.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Distribution of the serological rapid diagnostic tests by testing principle.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Distribution of the serological rapid diagnostic tests by testing platform.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Performance characteristics of the different serological rapid diagnostic tests by testing platform; LFIA membrane (a) and colloidal gold devices (b).
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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