The impact of reagent costs on access to diagnostics in developing countries
When I volunteered at a small clinic abroad, I was surprised to see how rarely they could run molecular tests, even for common infections. The staff explained that reagents were so expensive compared to their budget that they had to ration tests, only using them for the most severe cases. It made me think about how labs in lower-income regions manage to keep diagnostics running at all. Does anyone here know ways clinics overcome that barrier?
I once spoke with a group of researchers who told me they sometimes adapt protocols to use smaller reagent volumes or alternative materials, just to stretch their resources. It’s a creative workaround, but it also requires careful validation to make sure the results stay accurate. What struck me is how much ingenuity comes out of necessity when resources are limited.