Expanding diagnosis for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis

A clinical technician in Myanmar uses a molecular approach to detect drug-resistant TB bacteria, extracting bacterial DNA from sputum samples (Image: Unitaid)

Accelerating access to diagnostics for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) in low-income settings.

Challenges

Diagnosing multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) is extremely difficult in resource-poor settings, where access to laboratories with sophisticated equipment is often limited.

Solutions

Thanks to the EXPAND-TB project, 27 low-income and high-burden TB countries now have fully functioning TB laboratories, equipped with a number of new diagnostic tests, including the “line probe assay” and Xpert MTB/RIF. WHO recommends the Xpert test for individuals suspected of having MDR-TB. These advanced tests can detect MDR-TB within two hours so patients can start effective treatment promptly.

Impact achieved

The project established 103 laboratories in 27 countries to diagnose drug-resistant TB.
It also achieved considerable price reductions for sophisticated diagnostic equipment and supplies through special negotiations and competitive tenders.
From 2013 to 2015, a cumulative total of about 147,000 cases of MDR-TB had been detected and more than 1.7 million laboratory tests were carried out at EXPAND-TB sites.



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