Diagnostic Testing of Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19): A Challenge to the Developing Nations

A pneumonia of unknown origin is reported in Wuhan on December 2019. The laboratoryresult isnegative for respiratory infections and later it confirmed to be a novel enveloped RNA betacoronavirus now known as SARS-Cov-2. There are 693, 224 cases of COVID-19 worldwide as of 30th March, 2020 with 33, 106 deaths globally. USA has 122, 653 which is highest globally and Italy highest number of death 10, 781 as of 30th March 2020. Africa and other developing countries has highest risk of introduction and spreading of this pandemic disease but record lower number of confirmed cases so far. Nigeria has 139 confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of 30th march 2020 out of which 9 have been recovered, 128 receiving care and 2 deaths. There are 5 laboratoriesfor testing COVID-19 in Nigeria and has a capacity for testing 1500 sample per day as of 11th March 2020. No approved COVID-19 Rapid Test Kit in Nigeria. India has a total of 649 cases in which 42recovered, 594 receiving treatment and 13deaths as of 26th March 2020, 13, 143 samples has been tested in India on 8th April 2020 alone. There are 157 laboratories for testing COVID-19 in India as of 27th March, 2020. Algeria has 454 cases of COVID-19 out of which 29 deaths as of 30th March, 2020 and there is 5 laboratories for testing COVID-19 in Algeria as of 10th March, 2020. Pakistan has 1625 COVID-19 cases as of 30th March, 2020 out of which 18 cases deaths. Pakistan has 14 laboratories for testing COVID-19 as of 30th March, 2020. The low number of COVID-19 positive cases recorded in most of these developing country it may be due to lower level of laboratory testing and reporting. Some of these developing countries have insufficient resources to scale up testing and this lead to limited laboratory capacities.