Evaluation of antigen-based rapid detection test for the diagnosis of SARS CoV-2 in low-income countries.

Background: In the context of the Covid-19 pandemic and following the increasing number of suspicious Covid-19 cases in Madagascar, Malagasy laboratories are overflowed mainly due to lack of human resource and available material restriction. The development and validation of rapid and easy-to-perform diagnostic methods are worth of interest and high priority. The aim of this prospective study was to evaluate the performances of a rapid immunochromatographic test for the detection of SARS-CoV-2 antigen, in comparison to Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).

Description of 48 cases of multiple myeloma seen in the hematology laboratory of the CHU-Joseph Ravoahangy Andrianavalona, Antananarivo, Madagascar.

Monoclonal gammopathies are common abnormalities and their incidence increases with age. They are detected in roughly 3 % of people older over 50 years and up to 7 % of those over 70 years. Multiple myeloma (MM) is characterized by the proliferation of plasma cells within the bone marrow and excess secretion of monoclonal immunoglobulins.