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The World Health Organization has established a new technical advisory group that will advise on TB diagnostic tools and strategies, and complement the WHO guideline development process.
Within its normative function, WHO provides global, evidence-informed policies and recommendations on the use of clinical and public health interventions to better the health and well-being of all persons, which translate into global public health goods. To help address challenges related to the detection of TB and tackle the emergence of drug-resistant TB, WHO guides countries on the use of more accurate and rapid diagnostic strategies and tools. While the development of global recommendations consists of convening experts as part of guideline development groups, other scientific and technical aspects of TB diagnostics and clinical laboratory sciences for TB, relevant for the uptake and implementation of global policies, will be assessed by this Advisory Group on Tuberculosis Diagnostics and Laboratory Strengthening.
Dr Tereza Kasaeva, the WHO Global TB Programme Director welcomed the experts serving as members of this Advisory Group and their commitment. “Our ultimate goal is to provide the most rapid and robust guidance on the diagnosis of TB and identification of drug resistance to enable access to care for the millions affected by TB, addressing knowledge gaps that hamper implementation at the country level and help inform Member States about critical aspects.”
The Advisory Group will specifically advise WHO on TB diagnostic strategies in response to the emerging needs and priorities of Member States; provide rapid, independent evaluation and advice to WHO on scientific and technical aspects of TB diagnostic tools, technologies, methods and approaches. Further information about this Group is available here.
