An Observational Laboratory-Based Assessment of SARS-CoV-2 Molecular Diagnostics in Benin, Western Africa
Anna‐Lena Sander, Anges Yadouléton, Andrés Moreira‐Soto, Carine Tchibozo, Gildas Hounkanrin, Yvette Badou, Carlo Fischer, Nina Krause, Petas Akogbeto, Edmilson Ferreira de Oliveira-Filho, Anges Dossou, Sebastian Brünink, Christian Drosten, Melchior Aïssi, Mamoudou Harouna Djingarey, Benjamin Hounkpatin, Michael Nagel, Jan Felix Drexler
Abstract
Months after the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, case numbers from Africa are surprisingly low, potentially because the number of SARS-CoV-2 tests performed in Africa is lower than in other regions. Here, we show an overload of COVID-19-related diagnostics in the central laboratory of Benin, Western Africa, with a stagnating average number of positive samples irrespective of daily sample counts. SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance confirmed a high genomic diversity in Benin introduced by travelers returning from Europe and other African countries, including early circulation of the D614G spike mutation associated with potentially higher transmissibility. We validated a widely used RT-PCR kit donated by the Chinese Jack Ma Foundation and confirmed high analytical specificity and clinical sensitivity equivalent to tests used in affluent settings. Our assessment shows that although achievable in an African setting, the burden from COVID-19-related diagnostics on national reference laboratories is very high.