COVID-19 diagnostics in Russia 2020-2023

Over 340 million tests for coronavirus (COVID-19) were conducted in Russia as of the end of July 2023. Russia had fifth-largest number of COVID-19 tests performed worldwide and the third largest in Europe. Russia’s COVID-19 testing rate per one million population was lower than in several other European countries and the United States.

COVID-19 test systems in Russia

The State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology Vector, located in Novosibirsk, developed test systems able to identify the RNA of the SARS-CoV-2 based on the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in end-January 2020. Prior to March 20, 2020, test samples from all over the country had to be sent to Vector for verification. After that date, a positive test confirmed in the regional laboratories became sufficient to diagnose COVID-19. State-funded and private laboratories across the country could apply to for a permission to become COVID-19 testing centers. As of February 2, 2023, a total of 1,263 such labs operated in Russia.

Scale of COVID-19 testing in Russia

Most COVID-19 tests in Russia were conducted in Moscow, which also had the largest count of infected population since the outbreak of the disease. The testing capacity per 100 thousand population was the highest in the Sverdlovsk Oblast. Starting from July 16, 2020, Moscow introduced a free of charge mass COVID-19 testing in more than 200 centers. Furthermore, citizens of the Russian capital could get a free public antibody test. In mid-July, Russia imposed mandatory COVID-19 testing on arrival for nationals and foreign citizens.