WHO Lists First Mpox Diagnostic Test Under Emergency Use Procedure

The World Health Organization (WHO) has officially listed the first mpox in vitro diagnostic (IVD) test under its Emergency Use Listing (EUL) procedure, marking a crucial step towards improving global access to mpox testing, according to a statement released on Friday.

In 2024, over 30,000 suspected mpox cases have been reported across Africa, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Burundi, and Nigeria showing the highest numbers. However, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, only 37% of these suspected cases have undergone testing, the WHO revealed.

According to the WHO Interim Guidance on Diagnostic Testing for the monkeypox virus (MPXV), the virus is detected using nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), such as real-time or conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

“The inclusion of this mpox diagnostic test in the Emergency Use Listing is a major milestone in increasing testing availability in the countries most affected,” WHO stated.