Romano, Erin Rottinghaus; Sleeman, Katrina; Hall-Eidson, Patricia; Zeh, Clement; Bhairavabhotla, Ravikiran; Zhang, Guoqing; Adhikari, Amitabh; Alemnji, George; Cardo, Yolanda Rebello; Pinheiro, Ana; +45 more... Pocongo, Barbara; Eno, Laura T; Shang, Judith D; Ndongmo, Clement B; Rosario, Hilda; Moreno, Orquidea; De León, Lucia Aurora De La Cruz; Fonjungo, Peter; Kabwe, Constantin; Ahuke-Mundeke, Steve; Gama, Dan; Dlamini, Sindisiwe; Maphalala, Gugu; Abreha, Tefsay; Purfield, Anne; Gebrehiwot, Yared Tedla; Desalegn, Daniel Melese; Basiye, Frank; Mwangi, Jane; Bowen, Nancy; Mengistu, Yohannes; Lecher, Shirley; Kampira, Elizabeth; Kaba, Muluken; Bitilinyu-Bangoh, Joseph; Masamha, Gillian; Viegas, Sofia Omar; Beard, R Suzanne; van Rooyen, Gerhard; Shiningavamwe, Andreas N; I J, McPaul; Iriemenam, Nnaemeka C; Mba, Nwando; Okoi, Catherine; Katoro, Joel; Kenyi, Dennis L; Bior, Bior K; Mwangi, Christina; Nabadda, Susan; Kaleebu, Pontiano; Yingst, Samuel L; Chikwanda, Prisca; Veri, Levi; Simbi, Raivi; Alexander, Heather; (2022) Contribution of PEPFAR-Supported HIV and TB Molecular Diagnostic Networks to COVID-19 Testing Preparedness in 16 Countries. Emerging infectious diseases, 28 (13). S59-S68. ISSN 1080-6040 DOI: https://doi.org/10.3201/eid2813.220789
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Abstract
The US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) supports molecular HIV and tuberculosis diagnostic networks and information management systems in low- and middle-income countries. We describe how national programs leveraged these PEPFAR-supported laboratory resources for SARS-CoV-2 testing during the COVID-19 pandemic. We sent a spreadsheet template consisting of 46 indicators for assessing the use of PEPFAR-supported diagnostic networks for COVID-19 pandemic response activities during April 1, 2020, to March 31, 2021, to 27 PEPFAR-supported countries or regions. A total of 109 PEPFAR-supported centralized HIV viral load and early infant diagnosis laboratories and 138 decentralized HIV and TB sites reported performing SARS-CoV-2 testing in 16 countries. Together, these sites contributed to >3.4 million SARS-CoV-2 tests during the 1-year period. Our findings illustrate that PEPFAR-supported diagnostic networks provided a wide range of resources to respond to emergency COVID-19 diagnostic testing in 16 low- and middle-income countries.
Item Type | Article |
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Faculty and Department | MRC Uganda > UG-HIV Care |
Research Centre | Covid-19 Research |
PubMed ID | 36502414 |
Elements ID | 197370 |
Official URL | http://dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid2813.220789 |