The Institut Pasteur of Dakar is developing a quick kit to diagnose COVID-19, in partnership with the British biotechnology company Mologic. The test kits are being manufactured in Dakar and are expected to be ready for the market in June.
Mologic has already created similar test kits for other diseases, such as Ebola, measles and yellow fever. Institutions from several countries, including Fiocruz, participate in the testing phase of the new device.
The main feature of the new test is the speed – around ten minutes – and the accuracy of the diagnosis. Currently, a diagnosis can take up to 24 hours.
A false result can worsen the spread of the coronavirus, generating more social and economic costs.
Follow COVID-19 cases in real-time on the African Medical and Research Foundation (AMREF) website