The World Health Organization (WHO) has requested manufacturers of mpox in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) to submit expressions of interest for Emergency Use Listing (EUL) as the demand for diagnostic tests surges globally.
Since 2022, WHO has delivered around 150,000 diagnostic tests for mpox worldwide, with over a quarter going to countries in the African Region. An additional 30,000 tests will be delivered to African countries in the coming weeks.
The move comes as the Democratic Republic of the Congo reports over 1,000 suspected cases this week alone, highlighting the need for effective diagnostics, particularly in low-income settings.
WHO has updated its diagnostic testing guidance to detect the new virus strain and is working with countries to roll it out. The organization has also equipped six additional labs in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to diagnose mpox, enabling a decentralization of testing capacity.
The EUL procedure will enable WHO to approve medical products, such as tests, for use in emergency situations, assisting countries in procuring critically needed products through UN agencies and other partners.
Expanding access to diagnostic services is urgently needed to identify chains of transmission, detect cases early, prevent further spread, and monitor the virus in real-time.
WHO/Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
