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COVID-19 laboratory preparedness and response in the Americas Region: Lessons learned.

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  • Additional Information
    • Corporate Authors:
      SARINET laboratories Network
    • Source:
      Publisher: Public Library of Science Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 101285081 Publication Model: eCollection Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1932-6203 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 19326203 NLM ISO Abbreviation: PLoS One Subsets: MEDLINE
    • Publication Information:
      Original Publication: San Francisco, CA : Public Library of Science
    • Subject Terms:
      COVID-19/*diagnosis ; Laboratories/*statistics & numerical data; COVID-19/virology ; Central America ; Humans ; Laboratories/standards ; Regional Health Planning ; SARS-CoV-2/isolation & purification ; South America
    • Abstract:
      By the time the etiologic agent of the COVID-19 was identified as a novel coronavirus, no country in the Americas Region had laboratory capacity for detecting this new virus. A strategic multilevel approach with specific reagent purchase and delivery, regional trainings, in-country missions, and the provision of technical support was established for timely preparedness of national reference laboratories for SARS-CoV-2 detection. All countries should be prepared to timely detect any potential pandemic emerging agent. The rapid SARS-CoV-2 molecular detection implementation throughout the Americas showed the importance of an efficient and coordinated laboratory response for preparedness. Here we present how in 25 days the Americas Region went from no SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic capacity, to molecular detection fully implemented in 28 Member States, under the coordinated strategy of the Pan American Health Organization and collaborative work at regional and country level with national authorities and public health laboratories.
      Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
    • References:
      Euro Surveill. 2020 Jan;25(3):. (PMID: 31992387)
    • Publication Date:
      Date Created: 20210629 Date Completed: 20210712 Latest Revision: 20210712
    • Publication Date:
      20240105
    • Accession Number:
      PMC8241093
    • Accession Number:
      10.1371/journal.pone.0253334
    • Accession Number:
      34185777