COVID-19 Diagnostics and Testing: FutureLearn Free Online Course

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LSHTM

Course Developers: London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics & African Society for Laboratory Medicine.

Timeline: 3 weeks.

Course Type: Online Free Certificate Course.

Aim: To equip all medical and healthcare professionals with the latest recommendations on COVID-19 diagnostics and testing, and how to improve testing capacity in low-income settings.

The Key Role of Diagnostics in Outbreak Control

  • As the world struggles to contain the COVID-19 outbreak, healthcare infrastructure and testing capacity have emerged as major issues.
  • Different countries have implemented different testing strategies, and from the range of diagnostic tests available, some have received authorization for use by national regulatory agencies.
  • There’s a need for independent evaluation of these tests and guidance on implementing safe and reliable testing.
  • On this course, you’ll discover the latest recommendations on COVID-19 testing and get up-to-date information on the performance of tests and how best to deploy them.

Course Syllabus

  • The current state of the COVID-19 pandemic and the role of diagnostics in the response
  • The different types of diagnostic tests and their use in the COVID-19 outbreak
  • The current recommendations on use of COVID-19 diagnostics and testing strategies
  • How countries are establishing and scaling up COVID-19 testing, and key considerations for safety, quality and impact of diagnostic services

Specific Objectives

By the end of the course, participants will be able to:-

  • Identify different types of diagnostics for COVID-19 testing, explore their current use in the COVID-19 response to better understand how they can be implemented in your country
  • Identify key technical and operational considerations for testing and how to apply them to your setting to ensure safe and quality-assured testing services
  • Engage with your peers and learn how countries are scaling up testing capacity while exploring key considerations to inform your country planning and implementation
  • Develop an understanding of global recommendations on use of COVID-19 diagnostics and testing strategies

Eligibility & Requirements

This course is designed for professionals involved in the testing and diagnosis of COVID-19, with a focus on low- and middle-income settings.

This may include Ministry of Health officials, laboratory managers, medical laboratory scientists, laboratory technologists and technicians, clinicians, programme managers, implementing partners and others involved in laboratory testing for COVID-19.

Certification

To be certified in this course, you will experience the following:-

  • Unlimited access to course materials, such as articles, videos, peer reviews and quizzes
  • Tests to validate your learning
  • N/B: Joining and learning the course is free. But to get a print and digital Certificate of Achievement once you’re eligible, you will need to upgrade the course and pay $39.

About Course Developers

1. Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics

FIND is a global non-profit organization that drives innovation in the development and delivery of diagnostics to combat major diseases affecting the world’s poorest populations. We turn complex diagnostic challenges into simple solutions through unique partnerships with the public, private and non-profit sectors. FIND is working closely with partners including the World Health Organization in support of the global effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

2. London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine

The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine is a world leader in research and postgraduate education in public and global health. Its mission is to improve health and health equity worldwide.

3. African Society for Laboratory Medicine

The African Society for Laboratory Medicine is an independent, non-profit organisation founded in 2011 that coordinates, galvanises and mobilises relevant stakeholders from the local to international levels to improve local access to world-class diagnostic services and ensure healthy African communities. ASLM is the first pan-African society for laboratory professionals, endorsed by the African Union and supported by multiple African Ministers of Health through its Ministerial Call for Action.

Click here to sign up for this course

Also Read:

FutureLearn Online Course: Managing COVID-19 in General Practice

FutureLearn Online Course: COVID-19; Tackling the Novel Coronavirus

WHO Online Course: Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) for Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

WHO Online Course: COVID-19; Preparedness and Response.

Top 10 Health Grants to Fight Coronavirus

About Charles Ugwu

Charles E. Ugwu, is a Medical Laboratory Scientist, and an opportunity enthusiast for all Medical and Health Professionals.

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