CoVID-19 rRT-PCR Testing Capacity in Ghana; Indications of Preparedness for Marburg virus Outbreak?.

Abstract

Introduction Ghana, as of July 2022, has had 168,350 Real-Time Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction (rRT-PCR)-confirmed cases of CoViD-19 infections and 1,458 deaths. Besides, 2 cases of Marburg virus diseases (MVD) were confirmed in the country within the same month. Both CoViD-19 and MVD require rRT-PCR for diagnosis, however, rRT-PCR facilities are scarce in Ghana – especially, hitherto, the CoViD-19 pandemic. The objectives of this study were to assess the current testing capacity of CoViD-19 rRT-PCR in Ghana, and to make some recommendations in case of an MVD outbreak, or recurrence of the CoViD-19 pandemic.

Methods The study was cross-sectional. Questionnaires were administered to 100 health professionals actively involved in the testing cycle of CoViD-19 across rRT-PCR testing institutions. Responses with regards to CoViD-19 rRT-PCR testing, biosafety, and relationship with Surveillance Outbreak Response Management and Analysis System (SORMAS), PanaBios and Zipline, were obtained for 2020-through-2022. The responses were analyzed with Microsoft Excel office-365 and SPSS v.23.

Results Thirty-five (35) of the 53 testing institutions were in the Greater Accra Region, but none in seven (7) regions of the country. Many (49%) were privately owned. Nine (9) different professionals were involved in rRT-PCR testing. The testing institutions increased from 2 (in March 2020) to 53 by June-ending 2022, and most (90%) had Biosafety Cabinet class II (BSCII). PPEs were inadequate between march and June, 2020 (25%), but enough (100%) by June 2022. Zipline, SORMAS, and PanaBios, respectively, saw transactions from 28%, 81%, and 77% of the institutions.

Conclusion Ghana is adequately resourced for recurrence of CoViD-19, or any MVD outbreak, in terms of diagnosis with rRT-PCR. However, the country needs redistribution of these testing resources, expand the services of Zipline and SORMAS, satisfy additional biosafety requirements for MVD testing and equip over 180 GeneXpert facilities to help in accessible and affordable testing.