WHO and Stop TB Partnership Launch New Toolkit to Scale Up TB Testing with Innovative Diagnostics
Geneva, Switzerland – The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Stop TB Partnership have released a comprehensive new toolkit designed to help countries implement advanced tuberculosis (TB) testing methods.
The toolkit focuses on two key innovations: near point-of-care nucleic acid amplification tests (NPOC-NAATs) and swab-based specimen collection.
“The NPOC/swab toolkit includes checklists, training materials, standard operating procedures, and monitoring tools.”
Designed for rapid, decentralized testing, the resources aim to support healthcare workers in diagnosing TB and detecting drug resistance more quickly and accurately.
The primary goal is to assist national health programs in scaling up the use of these WHO-recommended diagnostic methods, which bring lab-quality testing closer to patients.
Key components of the new toolkit include:
- Comprehensive checklists for implementation planning.
- Standard operating procedures for swab-based sample collection.
- Training materials for healthcare personnel.
- Monitoring tools to track testing effectiveness and quality.
By providing these structured resources, the WHO and Stop TB Partnership hope to accelerate access to timely TB diagnosis and treatment, ultimately reducing the disease's global burden.