Decentralized testing speeds up Ebola response in the Democratic Republic of the Congo

Mongbwalu, Democratic Republic of the Congo-In a small laboratory at Mongbwalu General Referral Hospital in the Democratic Republic of the Congo's north-eastern Ituri Province, tabletop diagnostic devices hum faintly. Rolled out soon after the declaration of the Bundibugyo virus disease outbreak, the machines have drastically reduced testing times, enabling faster, life-saving action to stop the spread of the virus.

Before health authorities could declare the outbreak on 15 May 2026, samples were transported to the country's referral laboratory in the capital, Kinshasa, for further analysis to determine the type of Ebola virus causing the illnesses and deaths in Ituri and neighbouring provinces.

Decentralized testing does more than reduce transport times and logistical constraints-it can save lives. In remote communities such as Mongbwalu, where poor roads and challenging terrain can delay access to health services, the ability to diagnose cases quickly is critical to ensuring timely treatment and preventing further spread of the disease.

The RadiOne diagnostic devices that have been deployed in the field in Mongbwalu and other affected areas in Ituri and elsewhere can deliver results in under one hour.

Daily testing capacity in Bunia, the capital of Ituri Province, and Mongbwalu has increased from 30 to 80 tests. A standard Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR) test-a highly reliable diagnosis technique-complements the rapid diagnostic devices, transforming field laboratories into fully operational decentralized diagnostic centres.

"Although we don't have direct contact with patients, our contribution is decisive in clinical care," says Neema Sindani, a laboratory technician in Ituri Province. "Thanks to this innovative and user-friendly solution, results are now available within the hour. The speed significantly reduces delays, enabling medical teams to intervene earlier in confirmed cases and thereby improve patients' chances of survival."

In Mongbwalu, around 80 kilometres from Bunia, four laboratory technicians have been trained in biosafety protocols, sample handling and operation of the platform, with support from the World Health Organization (WHO). In Bunia, response teams report that rapid testing is helping to improve care at treatment centres.

"This is not the first rapid diagnostic technology to be used in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, but in the context of an Ebola outbreak, it's a major advancement," says Dr Olga Ntumba Tshitenge, a WHO laboratory diagnostics expert. "The equipment is lightweight, portable, usable without heavy infrastructure and user-friendly after a short training-essential advantages for deployment in remote areas."

In just a few weeks, laboratory capacity has expanded considerably, reducing reliance on transporting samples more than 2000 kilometres to Kinshasa and enabling both faster turnaround times and a higher volume of testing.

More decentralized laboratories are being established in Aru, near the border with Uganda; Nyankunde, near Bunia; as well as in the towns of Beni and Butembo in North Kivu Province. "This strengthened network considerably improves epidemiological surveillance," says Professor Placide Mbala of the National Institute for Biomedical Research (INRB).

The RadiOne rollout has been supported by the United Kingdom's Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office and partners including WHO, the World Bank, the Democratic Republic of the Congo's National Institute of Public Health, and the INRB.

"Today, quickly ruling out suspected cases helps prevent stigmatization and allows us to focus efforts and resources on confirmed cases, making our response more effective," says Dr Anne Ancia, Acting WHO Representative in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.