New diagnostic tools could broaden access to tuberculosis testing

WHO issued new guidelines recommending near-point-of-care molecular tests and tongue swabs to speed tuberculosis detection, noting the tests are faster, battery-powered and cost about half of current options; the agency urged governments to expand access while warning that funding shortfalls put progress at risk.

WHO has issued new testing guidelines that recommend wider use of near-point-of-care molecular diagnostics and tongue swabs to detect tuberculosis. TB remains a leading cause of infectious disease deaths, with over 3,300 people dying each day, and it is preventable and treatable with antibiotics such as rifampicin. The new tests are reported to be faster, run on battery power, cost about half of current tools and can deliver results in under an hour. Key details: - The guidelines recommend near-point-of-care molecular tests and tongue swabs to bring faster, accurate diagnosis closer to people and to reach those who cannot produce sputum. - Tongue swabs can enable testing for adults and young people who cannot provide sputum samples, improving access for groups at increased risk of poor outcomes. - The WHO also recommends a sputum pooling strategy to improve testing efficiency and reduce costs when resources are limited. - WHO reports that global TB efforts have saved roughly 83 million lives since 2000, but funding cuts and research investment shortfalls (below an estimated $5 billion needed annually) threaten future progress; the new tools may also be adaptable to other infections such as HIV, mpox and HPV. Summary: WHO says the new diagnostic tools could speed detection, reduce costs and expand who can be tested, and the agency urged governments to accelerate rollout, strengthen people-centred TB care and protect essential services. Sustained research funding and continued implementation efforts are identified as necessary to maintain and build on recent gains.