Increasing molecular diagnostic capacity and COVID-19 incidence in Brazil. (18th August 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Grotto, Rejane Maria Tommasini; Santos Lima, Rodrigo; de Almeida, Gabriel Berg; Ferreira, Claudia Pio; Guimarães, Raul Borges; Pronunciate, Micheli; Azevedo, Edmur; Catão, Rafael de Castro; Fortaleza, Carlos Magno Castelo Branco
• Is Part Of: Epidemiology and infection. Volume 148(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-08-18
• Subjects: COVID-19, -- diagnosis, -- epidemiology, -- infectious disease, -- laboratory tests; Communicable diseases -- Periodicals; Epidemiology -- Periodicals; 614.4
• DOI: 10.1017/S0950268820001818
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0950-2688

Abstract

Abstract: Different countries have adopted strategies for the early detection of SARS-CoV-2 since the declaration of community transmission by the World Health Organization (WHO) and timely diagnosis has been considered one of the major obstacles for surveillance and healthcare. Here, we report the increase of the number of laboratories to COVID-19 diagnosis in Brazil. Our results demonstrate an increase and decentralisation of certified laboratories, which does not match the much higher increase in the number of COVID-19 cases. Also, it becomes clear that laboratories are irregularly distributed over the country, with a concentration in the most developed state, São Paulo.