US donates 500,000 rapid diagnostic COVID-19 tests to Sri Lanka

The United States (US) has donated 500,000 Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) as part of its commitment to support Sri Lanka’s fight against COVID-19. These tests, worth 300 million Sri Lankan rupees ($1.5 million), were delivered to the Sri Lanka Ministry of Health through the United States Government’s development arm, the US Agency for International Development (USAID). These RDTs come in addition to over 1.5 million Moderna vaccines donated to Sri Lanka in July. These antigendetecting rapid diagnostic tests directly detect the presence of the COVID-19 virus. The tests are simple to use and enable fast, decentralised access to direct testing. They do not require additional equipment or specialised laboratory access, which helps achieve high testing coverage. The United States has worked closely with Sri Lanka since the outset of the pandemic to protect public health, providing over $8 million in emergency supplies and critical services, plus an in-kind donation of 200 ventilators and over 1.5 million Moderna vaccines.