30 November 2020
Expanding diagnostic testing for COVID-19 is critical for an effective response to the pandemic. While automated polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests became available early in the pandemic, these tests are laboratory based and can take several hours to days to return a result depending on the available infrastructure and trained personnel. Rapid tests to detect the presence of the virus at the point of care, which are faster and cheaper, are a vital addition to the testing arsenal needed to fight COVID-19, especially in remote communities or areas without advanced laboratory systems.
Following WHO guidance published on 11 September 2020, The Global Fund has made available for procurement two new point-of-care Antigen rapid diagnostic tests (Ag. RDTs) assessed by WHO for Emergency Use Listing (EUL): the SD Biosensor “Standard Q COVID-19 Ag test” and Abbott “Panbio COVID-19 Ag Rapid Test Device”.