New rapid TB tests available in 13 countries, bringing life-saving diagnostics closer to communities – Press releases

New rapid TB tests available in 13 countries, bringing life-saving diagnostics closer to communities

June 16, 2026

– Tuberculosis (TB), the world’s largest infectious disease that kills over 1 million people every year, although it may possibly be prevented and treated. One of the most important obstacles to eliminating tuberculosis is the proven fact that tens of millions of individuals still don’t have access to rapid and accurate diagnosis. To help fill this gap, 13 countries are preparing to deploy a brand new, first-in-class, near-point-of-care (NPOC) TB molecular diagnostic test in healthcare settings as a part of the Early Adopter initiative led by the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund).

With support from the Children’s Investment Fund (CIFF) and field implementation by the Aurum Institute, the initiative will provide nearly 3 million rapid and accurate TB tests to people and places which have never been accessed before – in Bangladesh, Benin, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Kenya, Nigeria, Peru, the Philippines, South Africa, Uganda, Vietnam and Zambia.

It is estimated that roughly 10.8 million people can have tuberculosis worldwide in 2024, and tens of millions of persons are either not diagnosed with the disease or haven’t reported the disease. Closing this diagnostic gap is important to finding people earlier, starting treatment earlier and reducing disease transmission. The introduction of point-of-care molecular testing goals to assist countries achieve this goal.

This implementation is according to the recent World Health Organization (WHO) advice to make use of NPOC molecular testing as an initial diagnostic tool in adults and adolescents with symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis, thereby replacing the century-old microscopy within the diagnosis of tuberculosis. These tests may be utilized in primary care settings, where most individuals with TB first seek care, helping to fill one among the most important gaps in TB treatment: timely diagnosis on the community level.

This recent class of NPOC tests provide leads to lower than an hour and offer significantly higher accuracy than smear microscopy, which has long been the one diagnostic method available in lots of decentralized facilities. Small, lightweight, easy to make use of and battery-powered, these devices can operate in clinics without reliable electricity, making them ideal for last-mile healthcare facilities.

This change is anticipated to scale back case finding costs, increase equity and dramatically expand access to WHO-recommended rapid diagnosis. By replacing smear microscopy with far more accurate molecular testing, countries will have the option to detect many more individuals with tuberculosis who would otherwise be missed. Earlier diagnosis means earlier treatment, higher health outcomes and fewer opportunity for TB to spread inside families and communities.

“Benin is proud to be one of the first countries to introduce a new generation of point-of-care TB tests,” said Minister of Health Benjamin Hounkpatin. “This marks an important step forward in our efforts to make high-quality tuberculosis services available to everyone, including those living in remote communities. By putting rapid and accurate diagnosis closer to the front lines of treatment, we can find people faster, start treatment faster and save many lives.”

“What’s most powerful at this point is not just the technology, but also the ability to reach people with TB where they are, at the first point of care,” said Professor Dave Clark, CEO of the Aurum Institute. “By supporting countries to implement these tools at scale, we achieve significant impact at the population level.”

“Point-of-care molecular testing has the potential to transform the way countries detect and treat tuberculosis,” said Peter Sands, executive director of the Global Fund. “By bringing accurate diagnostics closer to communities, we can find people earlier, reduce transmission and close the diagnostic gap that has slowed progress for too long.”

“This innovation in TB diagnosis must spur greater investment in TB care,” said Miles Kemplay, executive director of CIFF. “For too long, tuberculosis has been chronically underfunded, with few donor partners making it a priority. Now is the time for funders and philanthropists to support national health systems as they scale. These new tools work, they are cost-effective, and they will save countless lives. Helping the most vulnerable to be quickly diagnosed and treated sooner is one of the best investments we can make.”

Tests at the moment are available at a reasonable price, making decentralized molecular testing reasonably priced while ensuring high-quality performance. Importantly, NPOC testing complements more centralized molecular diagnostic platforms comparable to GeneXpert, which proceed to be essential for diagnosing drug-resistant TB and providing additional testing for individuals who test positive for NPOC. As more persons are tested in primary care, the necessity for drug resistance testing is anticipated to extend.

Tuberculosis stays the world’s leading killer of infectious diseases, causing over one million deaths every year. Despite significant advances in prevention, diagnosis and treatment, tens of millions of individuals still face barriers to accessing care. Expanding access to timely and accurate diagnosis is some of the effective ways to shut this gap, ensure earlier treatment starts and reduce disease transmission in communities.

The Global Fund is the biggest external funder of TB programs on the earth and is working closely with high-burden countries to support the introduction and scale-up of molecular testing for NPOC with a pipeline of modern products that might be available over the following 2-3 years. Through catalytic investments, technical assistance and country grants, the Global Fund, in partnership with CIFF, supports the programmatic rollout and scale-up of NPOC in these 13 countries.

The 13 early adopters of NPOC testing are helping to guide the worldwide shift towards decentralized, patient-centered TB care, bringing accurate diagnosis closer to communities and accelerating progress within the fight against TB.