African Journal of Laboratory Medicine最新文献

{"title":"Call for emergency action to limit global temperature increases, restore biodiversity, and protect health.","authors":"Lukoye Atwoli, Abdullah H Baqui, Thomas Benfield, Raffaella Bosurgi, Fiona Godlee, Stephen Hancocks, Richard Horton, Laurie Laybourn-Langton, Carlos Augusto Monteiro, Ian Norman, Kirsten Patrick, Nigel Praities, Marcel G M Olde Rikkert, Eric J Rubin, Peush Sahni, Richard Smith, Nicholas J Talley, Sue Turale, Damián Vázquez","doi":"10.4102/ajlm.v10i1.1707","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v10i1.1707","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":45412,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Laboratory Medicine","volume":"10 1","pages":"1707"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-09-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8517796/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39556655","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Pre-evaluation assessment of serological-based COVID-19 point-of-care lateral flow assays in Kenya.","authors":"James H Kimotho,&nbsp;Abdiaziz A Gosar,&nbsp;Ronald Inyangala,&nbsp;Paulyne Wairimu,&nbsp;Fred Siyoi,&nbsp;Damaris Matoke-Muhia,&nbsp;Cecilia Wanjala,&nbsp;Jeremiah Zablon,&nbsp;Moses Orina,&nbsp;Lucy Muita,&nbsp;Jacqueline Thiga,&nbsp;Lameck Nyabuti,&nbsp;Eunice Wainaina,&nbsp;Joseph Mwangi,&nbsp;Alice Mumbi,&nbsp;Samuel Omari,&nbsp;Ann Wanjiru,&nbsp;Samson M Nzou,&nbsp;Missiani Ochwoto","doi":"10.4102/ajlm.v10i1.1317","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v10i1.1317","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Timely testing is a key determinant of management outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction tests are currently the mainstay for COVID-19 testing. However, serological point-of-care tests (PoCTs) can be useful in identifying asymptomatic and recovered cases, as well as herd immunity.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The aim of this study was to assess COVID-19 PoCTs in Kenya to support the emergency use authorisation of these tests.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Between March 2020 and May 2020, 18 firms, of which 13 were from China, submitted their PoCTs to the national regulatory authority, the Pharmacy and Poison Board, who in turn forwarded them to the Kenya Medical Research Institute for pre-evaluation assessment. The tests were run with real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction COVID-19-positive samples. Pre-COVID-19 plasma samples that were collected in June 2019 were used as negative samples. The shelf lives of the PoCTs ranged from 6 to 24 months.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Only nine (50%) tests had sensitivities ≥ 40% (range: 40% - 60%) and the ability of these tests to detect IgM ranged from 0% to 50%. Many (7/18; 38.9%) of the kits had very weak IgM and IgG band intensities (range: 2-3).</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Serological-based PoCTs available in Kenya can only detect COVID-19 in up to 60% of the infected population.</p>","PeriodicalId":45412,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Laboratory Medicine","volume":"10 1","pages":"1317"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-09-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8517658/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39558203","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Higher proportion of non-classical and intermediate monocytes in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma patients in Egypt: A possible prognostic marker.","authors":"Asmaa M Zahran,&nbsp;Hanaa Nafady-Hego,&nbsp;Sawsan M Moeen,&nbsp;Hanan A Eltyb,&nbsp;Mohammed M Wahman,&nbsp;Asmaa Nafady","doi":"10.4102/ajlm.v10i1.1296","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v10i1.1296","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Interaction between multiple myeloma (MM) cells and proximal monocytes is expected during plasma cell proliferation. However, the role of monocyte subsets in the disease progression is unknown.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study evaluated circulating monocyte populations in MM patients and their correlation with disease severity.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Peripheral monocytes from 20 patients with MM attending Assiut University Hospital in Assiut, Egypt, between October 2018 and August 2019 were processed using a flow cytometry procedure and stratified using the intensity of expression of CD14 and CD16 into classical (CD16^-CD14⁺⁺), intermediate (CD16⁺CD14⁺⁺), and non-classical (CD16⁺⁺CD14⁺) subsets. The data were compared with data from 20 healthy control participants with comparable age and sex.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>In patients with MM, the percentage of classical monocytes was significantly lower (mean ± standard error: 77.24 ± 0.66 vs 83.75 ± 0.5), while those of non-classical (12.44 ± 0.5 vs 8.9 ± 0.34) and intermediate (10.3 ± 0.24 vs 7.4 ± 0.29) monocytes were significantly higher when compared with those of controls (all <i>p</i> < 0.0001). Proportions of non-classical and intermediate monocytes correlated positively with serum levels of plasma cells, M-protein, calcium, creatinine and lactate dehydrogenase, and correlated negatively with the serum albumin level. Proportions of classical monocytes correlated positively with albumin level and negatively correlated with serum levels of M-protein, plasma cells, calcium, creatinine, and lactate dehydrogenase.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Circulating monocyte subpopulations are skewed towards non-classical and intermediate monocytes in MM patients, and the intensity of this skewness increases with disease severity.</p>","PeriodicalId":45412,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Laboratory Medicine","volume":"10 1","pages":"129"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-08-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8424713/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39416479","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Strategic site selection for placement of HIV early infant diagnosis point-of-care technology within a national diagnostic network in Lesotho.","authors":"Anafi Mataka,&nbsp;Esther A J Tumbare,&nbsp;Tsietso Motsoane,&nbsp;David Holtzman,&nbsp;Monkoe Leqheka,&nbsp;Kolisang Phatsoane,&nbsp;Emma Sacks,&nbsp;Anthony Isavwa,&nbsp;Appolinaire Tiam","doi":"10.4102/ajlm.v10i1.1156","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v10i1.1156","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>New technologies for rapid point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tests hold great potential for improving the health outcomes of HIV-exposed infants. POC testing for HIV early infant diagnosis (EID) was introduced in Lesotho in late 2016. Here we highlight critical requirements for selecting routine POC EID sites to ensure a sustainable and optimised EID diagnostic network.</p><p><strong>Intervention: </strong>Lesotho introduced POC EID in a phased approach that included assessments of national databases to identify sites with high test volumes, the creation of local networks of sites to potentially increase access to POC EID, and a standardised capacity assessment to determine site readiness. Potential site networks comprising 'hub' testing sites and 'spoke' specimen referring sites were created.</p><p><strong>Lessons learnt: </strong>After determining optimal placement, a total of 29 testing facilities were selected for placement of POC EID to potentially increase access to 189 facilities through the use of a hub-and-spoke model. Site capacity assessments identified vital human resources and infrastructure capacity gaps that needed to be addressed before introducing POC EID and informed appropriate POC platform selection.</p><p><strong>Recommendations: </strong>POC placement involves more than just purchasing the testing platforms. Considering the relatively small proportion of sites that can be eligible for placement of a POC platform, utilising a hub-and-spoke model can maximise the number of health facilities served by a POC platform while reducing the necessary capacity building and infrastructure investments to fewer sites.</p>","PeriodicalId":45412,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Laboratory Medicine","volume":"10 1","pages":"1156"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-08-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8424766/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39419172","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Operational analysis of the national sickle cell screening programme in the Republic of Uganda.","authors":"Arielle G Hernandez,&nbsp;Charles Kiyaga,&nbsp;Thad A Howard,&nbsp;Isaac Ssewanyana,&nbsp;Grace Ndeezi,&nbsp;Jane R Aceng,&nbsp;Russell E Ware","doi":"10.4102/ajlm.v10i1.1303","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v10i1.1303","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Sickle cell anaemia is a common global life-threatening haematological disorder. Most affected births occur in sub-Saharan Africa where children usually go undiagnosed and die early in life. Uganda's national sickle cell screening programme was developed in response to a 2014 sickle cell surveillance study that documented a high disease prevalence.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study describes the temporal and financial aspects of Uganda's 2014-2019 sickle cell screening programme.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>National sickle cell screening data from Uganda's Central Public Health Laboratories were used to calculate turn-around times (TATs) from sample collection to delivery, testing, and result reporting for blood samples collected from February 2014 to March 2019. The parameters affecting specific TATs were assessed. The exact programme expenditures were analysed to determine cost per test and per positive sickle cell disease case detected.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>A total of 278 651 samples were analysed. The median TAT from sample collection to laboratory receipt was 8 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 6-12), receipt to testing was 3 days (IQR: 1-7), and testing to result reporting was 6 days (IQR: 3-12). Altogether, the sample continuum averaged 16 days (IQR: 11-24). Lower level healthcare facilities were associated with longer sample delivery TATs. Calendar months (January and December) and larger sample volumes impacted testing and result reporting TATs. The cost per test was $4.46 (United States dollars [USD]) and $483.74 USD per positive case detected.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Uganda's sickle cell screening programme is efficient and cost-effective. Universal newborn screening is the best strategy for detecting sickle cell anaemia in Uganda.</p>","PeriodicalId":45412,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Laboratory Medicine","volume":"10 1","pages":"1303"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-08-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8424771/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39419174","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comparison of 24-hour versus random urine samples for determination and quantification of Bence Jones protein in a South African population.","authors":"Ashandree Reddy,&nbsp;Nadine Rapiti,&nbsp;Verena Gounden","doi":"10.4102/ajlm.v10i1.1228","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v10i1.1228","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>The International Myeloma Working Group and College of American Pathologists recommend a 24-h urine collection to determine the Bence Jones protein (BJP) excretion level for monitoring treatment response in patients with multiple myeloma (MM). There are several issues related to sample collection and the method is prone to inaccuracy.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study compared measured 24-h to random urine collections for the quantitation of BJP in a South African population.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Sixty-six patients with MM submitted random urine samples with their routine 24-h urine collection from April 2016 - March 2018. Measured 24-h urine BJP was compared to two estimated 24-h BJP excretions calculated as follows: Estimation 1 (E1): Estimated 24-h BJP (mg/24 h) = Urine BJP/Creatinine ratio (mg/mmol) × 10. Estimation 2 (E2): Estimated 24-h BJP (mg/24 h) = Urine BJP/Creatinine ratio (mg/mmol) × 15 mg/kg for women or × 20 mg/kg for men.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>Correlation of estimation equations E1 and E2 to the measured 24-h urine BJP was 0.893. Patients showed no difference in classification of treatment response using either the E1 or E2 estimation equations when compared to the measured 24-h urine BJP results.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>This study demonstrates that the estimated 24-h BJP shows a high degree of correlation with the measured 24-h BJP and can likely be used to monitor treatment response in South African patients with MM.</p>","PeriodicalId":45412,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Laboratory Medicine","volume":"10 1","pages":"1228"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-08-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8424753/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39419173","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Could ante-mortem computed tomography be useful in forensic pathology of traumatic intracranial haemorrhage?","authors":"Mmachuene I Hlahla,&nbsp;Moshibudi J Selatole","doi":"10.4102/ajlm.v10i1.1040","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v10i1.1040","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Imaging techniques have proven valuable in forensic pathology practice, with computed tomography being preferred for forensic use. In the era of virtual autopsy and a low- to middle-income, resource-constrained country, a question arises as to whether ante-mortem computed tomography (ACT) could be cost-effective by reducing the number of invasive autopsies performed.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>The objective of this study was to assess the usefulness of ACT in forensic pathology by examining discrepancy rates between ACT scans and autopsy findings in cases of deceased individuals with traumatic intracranial haemorrhages and assess factors associated with discrepancies.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>Eighty-five cases of ACT and autopsy reports from 01 January 2014 to 31 December 2016 from the Polokwane Forensic Pathology Laboratory, South Africa, were analysed retrospectively. Using Cohen's kappa statistics, measures of agreement and resultant discrepancy rates were determined. Also, the discrepancy patterns for each identified factor was also analysed.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The discrepancy rate between ACT and autopsy detection of haemorrhage was 24.71% while diagnostic categorisation of haemorrhage was 55.3%. Classification discrepancy was most observed in subarachnoid haemorrhages and least observed in extradural haemorrhages. A markedly reduced level of consciousness, hospital stay beyond two weeks and three or fewer years of doctors' experience contributed to classification discrepancies.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>Ante-mortem computed tomography should be used only as an adjunct to autopsy findings. However, the low discrepancy rate seen for extradural haemorrhages implies that ACT may be useful in the forensic diagnosis of extradural haemorrhages.</p>","PeriodicalId":45412,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Laboratory Medicine","volume":"10 1","pages":"1040"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-07-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8335788/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39313681","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Cross-validation of a high-performance liquid chromatography nevirapine plasma assay in a resource-limited setting in Zimbabwe.","authors":"Faithful Makita-Chingombe, Anthony T Podany, Timothy Mykris, Farai Muzambi, Richard W Browne, Andrew J Ocque, Robin DiFrancesco, Lee C Winchester, Courtney V Fletcher, Tinashe Mudzviti, Charles C Maponga, Gene D Morse","doi":"10.4102/ajlm.v10i1.1264","DOIUrl":"10.4102/ajlm.v10i1.1264","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>An international HIV pharmacology specialty laboratory (PSL) was established at the University of Zimbabwe to increase bioanalytical and investigator capacities. Quantitation of plasma nevirapine in samples from the AIDS Clinical Trials Group protocol 5279 was compared between the University of Nebraska Medical Center PSL and the University of Zimbabwe PSL. Both PSLs employed internally developed methods utilising reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection. Eighty-seven percent of the cross-validation results exhibited ± 20% difference.</p>","PeriodicalId":45412,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Laboratory Medicine","volume":"10 1","pages":"1264"},"PeriodicalIF":1.0,"publicationDate":"2021-07-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8335789/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39313682","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Molecular characterisation of <i>NPM1</i> and <i>FLT3-ITD</i> mutations in a central South African adult <i>de novo</i> acute myeloid leukaemia cohort.","authors":"Jean F Kloppers,&nbsp;André de Kock,&nbsp;Johané Cronjé,&nbsp;Anne-Cecilia van Marle","doi":"10.4102/ajlm.v10i1.1363","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v10i1.1363","url":null,"abstract":"<p><strong>Background: </strong>Recognition of molecular abnormalities in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) has improved our understanding of its biology. <i>NPM1</i> and <i>FLT3-</i>ITD mutations are recurrent in AML and clinically significant. <i>NPM1</i> mutations are associated with a favourable prognosis, while <i>FLT3-</i>ITD mutations are an independent poor prognostic factor in AML.</p><p><strong>Objective: </strong>This study described the prevalence and molecular characteristics of the <i>NPM1</i> and <i>FLT3-</i>ITD mutations in a newly diagnosed AML patient cohort in central South Africa.</p><p><strong>Methods: </strong>The study included 40 de novo AML patients. An <i>NPM1</i> and <i>FLT3-</i>ITD multiplex polymerase chain reaction assay was optimised to screen patients for the respective mutations and were confirmed using Sanger sequencing. The prevalence of the <i>NPM1</i> and <i>FLT3-</i>ITD mutations were determined, and mutation-specific characteristics were described in relation to patients' demographic information and AML classifications.</p><p><strong>Results: </strong>The patients' median age was 38.5 years, with 77.5% (<i>n</i> = 31) of patients being self-proclaimed Black Africans. AML with recurrent genetic abnormalities was most prevalent (57.5%; <i>n</i> = 23), of which acute promyelocytic leukaemia (APL) was most common (40.0%; <i>n</i> = 16). None of the patients had the <i>NPM1</i> mutation. <i>FLT3-</i>ITD was present in 37.5% (6/16) of APL patients and in one (20.0%) of five AML patients with a t(8;21) translocation. Most patients had an <i>FLT3-</i>ITD allele ratio of ≥ 50% and ITD lengths of > 39 bp.</p><p><strong>Conclusion: </strong><i>FLT3-</i>ITD mutations were mainly found in APL cases at a similar prevalence as reported in the literature. High <i>FLT3-</i>ITD allele ratios and long ITD lengths predominated. No <i>NPM1</i> mutations were detected.</p>","PeriodicalId":45412,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Laboratory Medicine","volume":"10 1","pages":"1363"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-06-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8252134/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39159589","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Maintaining routine HIV and tuberculosis testing services in sub-Saharan African countries in the context of COVID-19: Lessons learnt and opportunities for improvement.","authors":"Collins O Odhiambo,&nbsp;Anafi Mataka,&nbsp;Marguerite Massinga Loembe,&nbsp;Pascale Ondoa","doi":"10.4102/ajlm.v10i1.1413","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.4102/ajlm.v10i1.1413","url":null,"abstract":"Since being declared a public health emergency of international concern on 30 January 2020, the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread internationally, reaching the stage of a global pandemic. 1 African countries quickly put in place social and public health measures to limit the spread of the disease, with some of the most ‘visible’ measures being lockdowns, physical distancing and the overall surge of healthcare services to support the COVID-19 response. The Director-General of the World Health Organization, calling for increased testing, recommended ‘test, test, test’ as a critical step to contain the spread of the disease. 2 When the first African case was reported in Egypt in February 2020, only two centres of excellence laboratories on the continent were capable of conducting severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 polymerase chain reaction testing, the gold standard assay recommended by the World Health Organization. [...]the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS estimates that there could be hundreds of thousands of extra deaths from HIV if routine services, including HIV screening, viral load and early infant diagnosis, are disrupted. 6 Eighty-five percent of national-level respondents from 61 countries participating in a World Health Organization, United Nations Children’s Fund and Global AIDS Vaccine Initiative poll reported lower vaccination proportions in May 2020 compared to the level in January 2020 – February 2020. Two separate analyses indicated that most HIV and tuberculosis instruments are often operated below their full capacity, 14 , 15 indicating that available instruments in most countries may be sufficient to support both COVID-19 and HIV and/or tuberculosis testing. [...]under the impulse of strong HIV and tuberculosis disease control programmes funded by the United States President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief and the Global Fund, the equipment is used almost exclusively for one disease area due to vertical programming, despite the instruments’ multiplexing capability and the recommendation to ‘integrate’ testing. 16 Additionally, many of the countries who either repurposed HIV and/or tuberculosis equipment for COVID-19 testing or refocused testing still experience challenges in long turn-around times for results, quality assurance and procurement issues, among others, indicating systemic weaknesses that need attention.","PeriodicalId":45412,"journal":{"name":"African Journal of Laboratory Medicine","volume":"10 1","pages":"1413"},"PeriodicalIF":1.1,"publicationDate":"2021-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8252131/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"39159590","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}