The World Health Organization (WHO) has endorsed a new test for tuberculosis (TB) to accelerate efforts to eradicate a deadly and dangerous infectious disease.
The test is called Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra and uses genetic markers and molecular analysis to detect the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes TB, according to the United Nations. According to , people are suspected of being infected with this disease in their saliva.
The new test is the first to be validated by the United Nations health agency and has achieved “pre-qualification status,” meaning it has passed rigorous quality testing.
“This first pre-qualification of a diagnostic test for tuberculosis marks an important milestone,” said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Access to Medicines and Health Products.
“This underscores the importance of such critical diagnostic tools in tackling one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases,” he added.
The World Health Organization added that accurate results can be expected from the test “within hours” and while the test is running, it can also detect genetic mutations in the saliva of people who have received first-line TB drugs such as that are resistant to rifampicin.
These advances may help doctors prescribe “second-line” treatments to patients.
“This is for patients who screen positive for pulmonary tuberculosis and who either have not started anti-tuberculosis treatment or have received less than three days of therapy in the past six months,” United Nations Health The organization said.
Tuberculosis is one of the world’s leading killers, resulting in more than a million deaths annually.
“High-quality diagnostic tests are the cornerstone of effective TB care and prevention,” said Dr. Rogerio Gaspar, WHO Director of Regulation and Prequalification.
“Prequalification paves the way for equitable access to modern technologies, empowering countries to tackle the dual burden of TB and drug-resistant TB,” he added.
Additionally, seven more TB tests are under evaluation by WHO as the organization aims to increase access to quality assurance testing technology for the disease.