Leveraging PEPFAR- and Global Fund-Supported Laboratory Network for Integrated Disease Testing: Lessons From Integrated HIV, Tuberculosis, and COVID-19 Testing in Nigeria.

Abstract

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, as part of the strategic approach to the COVID-19 outbreak response in Nigeria, coordinated the implementation of an integrated disease testing (IDT) strategy with support from multiple partners. This involved adaptation of existing US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)- and Global Fund-supported molecular laboratory networks and integration of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) testing into these. This enabled the country to provide large-scale testing and rapid return of results for SARS-CoV-2 from 2020 to 2022. IDT provided an opportunity for mainstreaming outbreak response into existing human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and tuberculosis testing laboratories. Lessons learned from this have informed the adoption of IDT across the country laboratory network as an efficient approach to multiple disease testing and pandemic preparedness and response in Nigeria.