Investigators
Study information
- Research Area: COVID-19 Diagnosis
- Research type: Diagnostic Accuracy. The test is based on the reverse-transcriptase recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA). Briefly, crude extraction or pure extraction yields RNA which is then isothermally amplified using RPA primers tagged with fluorescent probes. The resulting amplicons are placed on a PCRD card and if the virus is present 2 lines appear, if absent a single line appears.
- Start date: Apr 10, 2020
- End date: Apr 10, 2022
Study aim of the objectives
Coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid 2019) is a highly infectious disease that has rapidly spread all over the world leading to thousands of deaths, hospitalizations, and far-reaching economic and social disruptions. Africa has not adopted widespread testing despite the fact that it is the most vulnerable region with poor health systems. There's need therefore for the development of an accurate, highly sensitive and specific rapid test that can be conducted in rural Africa without the need of expensive lab equipment and highly trained scientists. The current invention in this study aims to test the sensitivity and specificity of a new a rapid diagnostic test for COVID19 based on nucleic acid.
Expected Results: The sensitivity and specificity of COV 2 NARDT will be determined and validated with RT-PCR
Impact: Development of Africa based solution to contain COVID19 outbreak.
Study setting/Area (Location)
Rwanda
Implementing institution
Rwanda Biomedical Center and Kenya Institute of Bioinformatics
Department/Division
Research, Innovation and Data Science Division and National Reference Laboratory
Impact on Policy
Will inform the process of early detection of respiratory infection in COVID-19 and put in place appropriate management measures