Abstract:
BACKGROUND : Point of care (POC) testing has enabled rapid coronavirus disease 2019
(COVID-19) diagnosis in resource-limited settings with limited laboratory infrastructure and high
disease burden. However, the accessibility of the tests is not optimal in these settings. This scoping
review mapped evidence on supply chain management (SCM) systems for POC diagnostic services
to reveal evidence that can help guide future research and inform the improved implementation of
SARS-CoV-2 POC diagnostics in resource-limited settings. METHODOLOGY : This scoping review was
guided by an adapted version of the Arksey and O’Malley methodological framework. We searched
the following electronic databases: Medline Ovid, Medline EBSCO, Scopus, PubMed, PsychInfo,
Web of Science and EBSCOHost. We also searched grey literature in the form of dissertations/theses,
conference proceedings, websites of international organisations such as the World Health Organisation
and government reports. A search summary table was used to test the efficacy of the search
strategy. The quality of the included studies was appraised using the mixed method appraisal
tool (MMAT) version 2018. RESULTS : We retrieved 1206 articles (databases n = 1192, grey literature
n = 14). Of these, 31 articles were included following abstract and full-text screening. Fifteen were
primary studies conducted in LMICs, and 16 were reviews. The following themes emerged from
the included articles: availability and accessibility of POC diagnostic services; reasons for stockouts
of POC diagnostic tests (procurement, storage, distribution, inventory management and quality
assurance) and human resources capacity in POC diagnostic services. Of the 31 eligible articles,
15 underwent methodological quality appraisal with scores between 90% and 100%. CONCLUSIONS :
Our findings revealed limited published research on SCM systems for POC diagnostic services
globally. We recommend primary studies aimed at investigating the barriers and enablers of SCMsystems for POC diagnostic services for highly infectious pathogens such SARS-CoV-2 in high
disease-burdened settings with limited laboratory infrastructures.
