It's cheaper for the poor

Minute test for covid will be distributed around the world

Georgy Golovanov, Hi-tech+

The COVID-19 test, which shows results almost immediately, within 15 to 30 minutes, will be distributed worldwide and will be able to slow down the spread of coronavirus infection. Thanks to the global initiative, 120 million rapid antigen tests will be sent to governments of low- and middle-income countries at a cost of no more than $5.

The Global Collaboration on the Development, Production and Fair Access to New Diagnostic, Therapeutic and Vaccination Tools (ACT-Accelerator) is an initiative of the G20 countries, WHO and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, announced in April 2020. It guarantees pharmaceutical companies a certain volume of orders in return for the fact that they sell 20% of their drugs and instruments to low- and middle-income countries at reduced prices.

In this case, we are talking about two quick tests for antibodies: one of them was developed by the Korean company SD BioSensor and has already been approved by WHO, the other – by the American company Abbott – should soon receive permission for use.

The purchase price of both tests under the ACT program will not exceed $ 5, the Guardian reports.

Both diagnostic tools outwardly resemble pregnancy tests with two blue stripes, manifested in the case of a positive reaction to SARS-CoV-2. The whole process takes no more than half an hour and allows you to quickly and easily diagnose health workers who are infected on a huge scale in low-income countries.

The companies claim that the accuracy of their tests is 97%, however, under optimal conditions. In real life, it is more likely from 80% to 90%. Nevertheless, this indicator is quite high for poor countries where relatively few tests are carried out. If in North America 395 patients are tested daily, and in Europe – 243 for every 100,000 people, then in Africa – less than 16, and then mainly in Morocco, Kenya and Senegal.

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