The Treatment Action Group (TAG) has released an updated version of its activist guide, An Activist’s Guide to Diagnostic Tools for Tuberculosis. The document is a response to the alarming global tuberculosis situation, where the disease is once again the leading cause of death from infectious diseases, claiming the lives of 1.25 million people in 2023. The main purpose of the publication is to help activists and civil society organizations lobby for the implementation of modern diagnostic tools recommended by the WHO.
In 2023, approximately 2.7 million cases of tuberculosis remained undiagnosed — these are the so-called “lost” patients. At the same time, despite some improvement in the situation after the COVID-19 pandemic, access to quality diagnostics remains limited, especially in rural areas and among vulnerable populations. The authors of the guide point out that the most vulnerable are children, people living with HIV, pregnant women, people with compromised immune systems, or those with limited access to medical services.
The guide provides an overview of the latest diagnostic methods recommended by the WHO, including:
- automated molecular tests Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Cepheid) and Truenat (Molbio);
- computer-aided interpretation of digital X-ray images (CAD);
- urine-based tests (LF-LAM) for people living with HIV;
- next-generation tests (tNGS) to determine drug resistance.
Special attention is paid to tests for children, in particular the simultaneous testing strategy — a combination of sputum, urine, and stool tests. These approaches increase TB detection in cases where traditional methods (such as microscopy or culture) are ineffective or unavailable.
The report also emphasizes the critical need for affordable diagnostics. It cites the example of the “Time for $5” campaign, which succeeded in reducing the price of Xpert MTB/RIF tests from $10 to $7.97, saving tens of millions of dollars and enabling the purchase of millions of additional tests.
The authors of the guide believe that governments should increase domestic funding for TB programs, adapt policies in line with new WHO recommendations, and expand access to laboratory diagnostics. Manufacturers, meanwhile, should ensure fair pricing and adapt new tools to the needs of the most vulnerable populations.
The updated activist guide is not only an information resource but also a practical tool for combating the tuberculosis epidemic, designed to ensure that everyone has access to high-quality, rapid, and affordable diagnostics.
The full version in English is available at: AN ACTIVIST’S GUIDE TO DIAGNOSTIC TOOLS FOR TUBERCULOSIS
