Assessment of COVID-19 Detection Laboratories - Q3, 2022

Key Highlights

• 42 COVID-19 detection laboratories were assessed in the 3 rd Quarter 2022.

• 25 (60%) Labs are reported fully functional, while 17 (40%) are either partially or non-functional.

• 37 (88%) have RT-PCR machines, while 5 (12%) reported non-available machines.

• 24 (57%) have Cepheid GeneXpert machines, while 18 (43%) reported non-available machines.

• Majority of the functional laboratories 21 (64%) are operating 1 shift of 8 hours, followed by 2 shifts of 16 hours, and 2 shifts of 12 hours.

• The highest testing capacity is reported in Tripoli labs (10,384), followed by 2,250 in Misrata labs, and 2,000 in Azzawya labs.

• The reported needs are ranked per priority as consumables, equipment, and staff training; consequently.

1. Introduction Assessment of COVID-19 detection laboratories was conducted to measure diagnostic testing capacity and availability of resources to provide a reliable service.

The following information pillars were covered under the assessment:

1. Location of the laboratory

2. Functionality Status, and main reasons of nonfunctionality

3. Diagnostic capacity (availability of RT-PCR & GeneXpert machines)

4. Staffing capacity

5. Consumables

6. Needs

A standard template was designed for data collection.
The template was shared with WHO Field Coordinators, who collected data from the laboratories in coordination with NCDC (National Centre for Disease Control) and the Ministry of Health. Data is collected on quarterly basis. This analysis report reflects the laboratories assessed in the 2 nd Quarter of 2022 (last date for reported data is 30 September 2022); information reviewed and endorsed by NCDC.

The total assessed laboratories in the 3 rd Quarter 2022 are 42.

The assessed labs are distributed across the three regions: Eastern (9), Southern (6), and Western region (27).