Tuberculosis Diagnostics Pipeline
Over the past decade, there has been an unprecedented level of interest and activity focused on the development of new tools for TB diagnosis, largely because of the involvement and engagement of agencies such as the Stop TB Partnership's New Diagnostics Working Group (NDWG), the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND), the Global Laboratory Initiative (GLI), the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Special Programme for Research and Training in Tropical Diseases (TDR), several industry partners, non-governmental agencies, and national TB programs. Funding agencies such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM), and UNITAID have provided the much needed resources and impetus to push the new tools agenda, in keeping with the Global Plan to Stop TB. As a consequence, we now have a strong pipeline of improved or new tools for TB diagnosis.In 2008, the Stop TB Partnership's Retooling Task Force (RTF) and NDWG produced a detailed brochure entitled "New laboratory diagnostic tools for tuberculosis control", on the diagnostics pipeline, mainly to provide guidance to National TB Programs (NTPs), and for funding and technical agencies that may wish to support the development, evaluation or implementation of new tools. The pipeline not only describes the various tests, but also provides some information on the commercial kits available, training requirements, and estimated costs.
Summary of Technologies
Types of Technologies in the Pipeline
FIND Product Pipeline for Tuberculosis 2008-2013
More Information [Link]
MSF TB Diagnostics Pipeline
More Information [Link]
