Diagnosis of tuberculosis and detection of drug-resistance: rapid communication

Overview

In this rapid communication, the World Health Organization (WHO) is announcing updates on the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB), with a focus on concurrent use of tests in adults and adolescents living with HIV and in children, including in children living with HIV:

• concurrent use of molecular test on respiratory samples and LF-LAM on urine for diagnosis of TB in adults and adolescents with HIV has improved accuracy and moderate cost requirements compared with single testing;
• concurrent use of molecular test on respiratory specimens and stool for diagnosis of TB in children has improved accuracy and moderate cost requirements compared with single testing;
• concurrent use of molecular test on respiratory samples, stool, and LF-LAM on urine in children living with HIV has improved accuracy and moderate cost requirements compared with single testing;
• two new diagnostic classes have been established: low complexity automated nucleic acid amplification tests (LC-aNAATs) and low complexity manual nucleic acid amplification tests (LC-mNAATs).