Context: Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) is receiving several requests from India’s public laboratories for automated equipment including high-throughput COVID-19 testing machines, related equipment such as automated nucleic acid extractors, consumables and test-kits. These items can be used to quickly scale capacity of laboratories without much increase in manpower requirement. FIND has a strong team of procurement and supply-chain professionals, microbiologists and medical officers who can be immediately deployed to liaise with states/sites to prioritize requests in order of need and ensure quick installation of lab equipment, as well as supply of appropriate test kits.

FIND urgently seeks like-minded donors who would like to contribute to fulfilling these requests, on war-footing and in shortest time possible.

Rationale: India has been calibrating its testing strategy as per the changing paradigm, and considering the scope, need and capacity to rapidly scale-up tests performed each day. Since March 2020, the number of laboratories in the country have risen and stand at 2498, today. The testing rate has been ramped up significantly over the last few months with the introduction of the rapid antigen detection test in addition to molecular tests. However, strengthening testing capacity continues to require addressal of issues related to lab capacity, availability of skilled human resource and supply chain constraints. 

Why FIND? 

Globally, FIND serves as co-lead for the Diagnostics pillar of the ACT-Accelerator along with the Global Fund, working closely with the WHO, UNICEF and over 30 global health expert partners to accelerate innovation and overcome technical, financial, and political obstacles to achieving equitable access to effective and timely testing.

In India, since 2020 and through the support of donors, FIND has supplied several Government of India COVID-19 laboratories with automated diagnostic equipment and consumables including 130 GeneXpert® machines, RT-PCR machines, sequencers, viral transport media (for collection and transportation of samples), >70,000 test kits, >24,000 RNA extraction reactions and other related supplies.

FIND and partners also offer a global training programme (for lab personnel) in India through a customized country-specific version. The courses encompass an overview of the COVID-19 pandemic, role of diagnostics as a response, types of tests available, current recommendations on usage, testing strategies as well as insights on how COVID-19 testing can be scaled up. The courses were launched globally, in April 2020, attracting more than 20,000 participants from 188 countries. The customized edition available in India attracted 1,200+ learners so far. To improve quality of testing, through partners, FIND has also facilitated on-site training for 360+ lab personnel so far.