Diagnostics
The Diagnostics Pillar is co-convened by FIND and the Global Fund, with strong support from WHO, working closely with over 50 global health partners to scale-up equitable access to COVID-19 diagnostic technologies and tools.
Achievements
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Procuring over 185 million and delivering over 160 million tests to more than 180 countries
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Negotiating price reductions of 30-50% for PCR tests, and more than 50% for antigen RDTs
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Awarding nearly US $1 billion to countries for test procurement and roll-out via Global Fund C19RM
Current priorities
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Ensure availability of accurate, affordable diagnostics, through R&D, local manufacturing, tech transfer, regulatory improvements and support for market entry.
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Scale, improve and sustain equitable access to testing through the Global Fund C19RM, test procurement, health/community systems improvement, scaling of self-testing and test-and-treat programs, and integrated COVID-19 testing.
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Expand fit-for-purpose sequencing systems, strengthening integration of data to guide public health action.
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Prepare for the next threat by improving rapid detection, development, and deployment of diagnostics in support of health systems.
IMPACT STORY: GRASSROOTS GENOMIC SEQUENCING IN INDIA
In India, FIND partnered with the Institute of Genomics and Integrated Biology (CSIR-IGIB) to boost sequencing capacity across the country. The partnership aims to decentralize genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2, down to the district level, by setting up “MicroLabs” that enable sequencing, analysis and interpretation of sequencing data with minimal turnaround time in places with limited infrastructure.
With the risk of a new variant of concern mounting by the day, the importance of point-of-care genome sequencing to track the evolution of the virus is also rising. The ACT-Accelerator has a track record of providing support to facilitate variant detection. It helped build the capacity to expand the use of next-generation sequencing for genomic surveillance in Southern Africa, which enabled the early detection of the Omicron variant.
In addition to helping detect variants, conducting genomic sequencing at a more local level also improves understanding of the mutations underlying vaccination breakthroughs, which can ultimately inform the development of new vaccines and identification of who might still be at high risk, even after vaccination.
RESOURCES
Explore testing rates, changes over time, molecular vs rapid test data, and more.
