A point-of-care-testing infrastructure for the rapid detection of COVID-19 cases will be implemented in Masanga Hospital in Sierra Leone within the framework of the hospital partnership between the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster and Masanga Hospital. SARS-CoV-2 diagnostics are predominantly performed by centralised national laboratories in the country. While Masanga Hospital has been designated as a special national treatment center for COVID-19 cases, the laboratory infrastructure that is necessary for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 is not yet available. Consequently, the planned tests at the hospital will be mandatorily integrated into national activities and networks, and test results will be fed into the national surveillance system.
An isothermal PCR will be used for the detection of SARS-CoV-2, which is set-up in accordance with WHO recommendations and whose robust functioning is specifically made for contexts with limited resources. The relevant staff will receive intensive on-site training courses.
The sustainable supply of reagents is currently being negotiated with Amplex, the manufacturer of the testing device and medical consumables. The testing device will be fully integrated into the future laboratory service so that the infrastructure will be available to all patients, including those with other infectious diseases. For example, the Amplex testing platform can also be used to test for Buruli ulcer and sexually transmitted diseases.