COVID-19

Leveraging the advances in HIV for COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to accelerated research efforts globally and highlighted the importance of community engagement and leadership in the COVID-19 response. To achieve these objectives, partnerships between science, government, and affected communities are crucial, but building these rapidly presents major challenges. In the past months, we have also seen how advances in confronting the global HIV epidemic have had a positive impact on the COVID-19 response.

Accessible, rapid point-of-care diagnostics were developed to increase uptake of HIV testing and shift to a model of self-testing and community-led programmes. These technologies are allowing for rapid implementation of diagnostic capacity for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) PCR testing in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs).

  • Loeffelholz MJ
  • Alland D
  • Butler-Wu SM
  • et al.
Multicenter evaluation of the Cepheid Xpert Xpress SARS-CoV-2 test.