Copyrig
New and improved tuberculosis diagnostics: evidence, policy,
prac
Madh ga
Introduction
In 2010, poor diagnosis remains a major obstacle to global
tuberculosis (TB) control. In most high-burden countries,
TB is still diagnosed using tools such as direct sputum
microscopy and chest radiographs. Fortunately, the past
few years have seen an unprecedented level of interest,
funding support, and activity focused on the development
of new tools for TB diagnosis, and the new diagnostics
pipeline for TB is rapidly expanding. In parallel, there
have been several new policy recommendations on TB
diagnostics by the WHO. Because recent publications
[1�,2,3�,4] have exhaustively reviewed thecurrent pipeline
of new diagnostics and the expanding evidence base for
their use, we focus our attention on how evidence is
translated into policy, limitations of the existing evidence
base, deficiencies in the current diagnostics pipeline, and
challenges involved in translating policies into practice
and impact.
What is the evidence base for tuberculosis
diagno
The ev
derived
individual studies are seldom sufficient to inform policy
and guideline development, the totality of available
evidence must be synthesized. Thus, systematic reviews
and meta-analyses are often necessary to summarize the
evidence on a given diagnostic test. In the past decade,
there have been over 35 systematic reviews published on
TB diagnostics, on topics ranging from smear microscopy
to molecular diagnostics and in-vitro assays for latent TB
infection (LTBI). All of these systematic reviews have
been made available on a new website ‘Evidence-based
Tuberculosis Diagnosis’ (www.tbevidence.org) compiled
by the Stop TB Partnership’s New Diagnostics Working
Group, in collaboration with several agencies [5�]. While
the key findings of published systematic reviews and
meta-analyses on TB diagnostics have been reviewed
elsewhere [6�], Table 1 provides a brief overview of the
evidence base for TB diagnosis, essentially synthesizing
the evidence from several systematic reviews [7–37].
What is lacking in current evidence base?
aDepartme
Occupation
Canada, bF
Center, Un
California, U
WHO Spec
Tropical Di
Geneva, Sw
Correspond
Professor,
and Occup
Avenue We
Tel: +1 51
e-mail: mad
Current O
16:271–28
ev
ostics, and discuss issues such as how evidence is
ons
pa
be
vel
xpa
s. H
test
ura
diag
act
nd
de
ge
ep
diagnostics, evidence, impact, policy, tuberculosis
Curr Opin Pulm Med 16:271–284
� 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins
1070-5287
1070-528
stics?
idence base for TB diagnostics is ultimately
from a large body of original research. Because
Although a large number of systematic reviews have been
published on TB diagnostics, almost all focus on test
accuracy (i.e. sensitivity and specificity). This is in part
7 � 2010 Wolters Kluwer Health | Lippincott Williams & Wilkins DOI:10.1097/MCP.0b013e328338094f
tice, and impact
ukar Paia, Jessica Miniona, Karen Stein
nt of Epidemiology, Biostatistics and
al Health, McGill University, Montreal,
rancis J. Curry National Tuberculosis
iversity of California, San Francisco,
SA and cUNICEF/UNDP/World Bank/
ial Programme for Research and Training in
seases (TDR), World Health Organization,
itzerland
ence to Madhukar Pai, MD, PhD, Assistant
Department of Epidemiology, Biostatistics
ational Health, McGill University, 1020 Pine
st, Montreal, QC H3A 1A2, Canada
4 398 5422; fax: +1 514 398 4503;
hukar.pai@mcgill.ca
pinion in Pulmonary Medicine 2010,
4
Purpose of review
The aim is to summarize the
recent policies on TB diagn
translated into policy, limitati
in translating policies into im
Recent findings
Case detection continues to
due to an unprecedented le
pipeline for TB has rapidly e
guidelines on TB diagnostic
(e.g. lack of a point-of-care
research studies of test acc
Summary
With the availability of new
is translation of policy into pr
extent of their introduction a
itself depend in part on policy
TB programs. With the enga
evidence-based policies into
Keywords
ht © Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized
of the existing evidence base, and challenges involved
ct.
a major obstacle to global TB control. Fortunately,
of interest, funding, and activity, the new diagnostics
nded. There have been several new policies and
owever, there are major gaps in the existing pipeline
) and the evidence base is predominantly made up of
cy.
nostics and supporting policies, the next major step
ice. The impact of new tests will depend largely on the
acceptance into the global public sector. This will
cisions by international technical agencies and national
ment of all key stakeholders, we will need to translate
idemiological and public health impact.
rtb and Andrew Ramsayc
idence base for tuberculosis (TB) diagnostics, review
reproduction of this article is prohibited.
Copyright © Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
272 Infectious diseases
T
a
b
le
1
S
u
m
m
a
ry
o
f
fi
n
d
in
g
s
fr
o
m
sy
st
e
m
a
ti
c
re
vi
e
w
s
o
n
tu
b
e
rc
u
lo
si
s
d
ia
g
n
o
st
ic
te
st
s
D
ia
g
no
st
ic
te
st
D
es
cr
ip
tio
n
D
is
ea
se
/s
ite
M
aj
o
r
fin
d
in
g
s/
re
su
lts
o
f
sy
st
em
at
ic
re
vi
ew
s
M
aj
o
r
re
fe
re
nc
es
D
ia
g
n
o
si
s
o
f
a
ct
iv
e
T
B
S
p
ut
um
sm
ea
r
m
ic
ro
sc
o
p
y
M
ic
ro
sc
o
p
ic
o
b
se
rv
at
io
n
o
f
st
ai
ne
d
ac
id
fa
st
b
ac
ill
i
P
ul
m
o
na
ry
T
B
F
lu
o
re
sc
en
ce
m
ic
ro
sc
o
p
y
(F
M
)
is
o
n
av
er
ag
e
1
0
%
m
o
re
se
ns
iti
ve
th
an
co
nv
en
tio
na
l
m
ic
ro
sc
o
p
y.
S
p
ec
ifi
ci
ty
o
f
b
o
th
flu
o
re
sc
en
ce
an
d
co
nv
en
tio
na
l
m
ic
ro
sc
o
p
y
is
si
m
ila
r.
F
lu
o
re
sc
en
t
m
ic
ro
sc
o
p
y
is
as
so
ci
at
ed
w
ith
im
p
ro
ve
d
tim
e
ef
fic
ie
nc
y.
[7
–
9
]
LE
D
F
M
p
er
fo
rm
s
eq
ui
va
le
nt
ly
to
co
nv
en
tio
na
l
F
M
,
w
ith
ad
d
ed
b
en
efi
ts
o
f
lo
w
co
st
,
d
ur
ab
ili
ty
,
an
d
ab
ili
ty
to
us
e
w
ith
o
ut
a
d
ar
kr
o
o
m
.
C
en
tr
ifu
g
at
io
n
an
d
o
ve
rn
ig
ht
se
d
im
en
ta
tio
n,
p
re
ce
d
ed
w
ith
an
y
o
f
se
ve
ra
l
ch
em
ic
al
m
et
ho
d
s
(in
cl
ud
in
g
b
le
ac
h)
is
sl
ig
ht
ly
m
o
re
se
ns
iti
ve
(6
–
9
%
)
th
an
d
ire
ct
m
ic
ro
sc
o
p
y;
sp
ec
ifi
ci
ty
m
ay
b
e
sl
ig
ht
ly
d
ec
re
as
ed
(1
–
3
%
)
b
y
sp
ut
um
p
ro
ce
ss
in
g
m
et
ho
d
s.
W
he
n
se
ria
l
sp
ut
um
sp
ec
im
en
s
ar
e
ex
am
in
ed
,
th
e
m
ea
n
in
cr
em
en
ta
l
yi
el
d
an
d
/o
r
in
cr
ea
se
in
se
ns
iti
vi
ty
fr
o
m
ex
am
in
at
io
n
o
f
th
ird
sp
ut
um
sp
ec
im
en
ra
ng
es
b
et
w
ee
n
2
an
d
5
%
.
N
uc
le
ic
ac
id
am
p
lifi
ca
tio
n
te
st
s
(N
A
A
T
s)
Is
o
la
tio
n,
re
p
lic
at
io
n,
an
d
d
et
ec
tio
n
o
f
nu
cl
ei
c
ac
id
se
q
ue
nc
es
sp
ec
ifi
c
fo
r
M
yc
o
b
ac
te
ri
u
m
tu
b
er
cu
lo
si
s
P
ul
m
o
na
ry
an
d
ex
tr
ap
ul
m
o
na
ry
T
B
N
A
A
T
s
ha
ve
hi
g
h
sp
ec
ifi
ci
ty
an
d
p
o
si
tiv
e
p
re
d
ic
tiv
e
va
lu
e.
N
A
A
T
s,
ho
w
ev
er
,
ha
ve
re
la
tiv
el
y
lo
w
er
(a
nd
hi
g
hl
y
va
ria
b
le
)
se
ns
iti
vi
ty
an
d
ne
g
at
iv
e
p
re
d
ic
tiv
e
va
lu
e
fo
r
al
l
fo
rm
s
o
f
T
B
,
es
p
ec
ia
lly
in
sm
ea
r-
ne
g
at
iv
e
an
d
ex
tr
ap
ul
m
o
na
ry
d
is
ea
se
.
In
-h
o
us
e
(‘
ho
m
e
b
re
w
’)
N
A
A
T
s
p
ro
d
uc
e
hi
g
hl
y
in
co
ns
is
te
nt
re
su
lts
as
co
m
p
ar
ed
w
ith
co
m
m
er
ci
al
,
st
an
d
ar
d
iz
ed
N
A
A
T
s.
[1
0
–
1
5
]
C
o
m
m
er
ci
al
se
ro
lo
g
ic
al
an
tib
o
d
y
d
et
ec
tio
n
te
st
s
D
et
ec
tio
n
o
f
ho
st
an
tib
o
d
y
re
sp
o
ns
e
to
M
yc
o
b
ac
te
ri
u
m
tu
b
er
cu
lo
si
s
an
tig
en
s
P
ul
m
o
na
ry
an
d
ex
tr
ap
ul
m
o
na
ry
T
B
S
er
o
lo
g
ic
al
te
st
s
fo
r
b
o
th
p
ul
m
o
na
ry
an
d
ex
tr
ap
ul
m
o
na
ry
T
B
p
ro
d
uc
e
hi
g
hl
y
in
co
ns
is
te
nt
es
tim
at
es
o
f
se
ns
iti
vi
ty
an
d
sp
ec
ifi
ci
ty
;
no
ne
o
f
th
e
cu
rr
en
t
as
sa
ys
p
er
fo
rm
w
el
l
en
o
ug
h
to
re
p
la
ce
m
ic
ro
sc
o
p
y.
[1
2
,1
6
,1
7
]
N
o
nc
o
m
m
er
ci
al
(in
-h
o
us
e)
se
ro
lo
g
ic
al
an
tib
o
d
y
d
et
ec
tio
n
te
st
s
D
et
ec
tio
n
o
f
ho
st
an
tib
o
d
y
re
sp
o
ns
e
to
M
yc
o
b
ac
te
ri
u
m
tu
b
er
cu
lo
si
s
an
tig
en
s
P
ul
m
o
na
ry
T
B
S
ev
er
al
p
o
te
nt
ia
l
ca
nd
id
at
e
an
tig
en
s
fo
r
in
cl
us
io
n
in
an
an
tib
o
d
y
d
et
ec
tio
n-
b
as
ed
d
ia
g
no
st
ic
te
st
fo
r
p
ul
m
o
na
ry
T
B
in
H
IV
-in
fe
ct
ed
an
d
-u
ni
nf
ec
te
d
in
d
iv
id
ua
ls
w
er
e
id
en
tifi
ed
.
[1
8
]
C
o
m
b
in
at
io
ns
o
f
se
le
ct
an
tig
en
s
p
ro
vi
d
e
hi
g
he
r
se
ns
iti
vi
tie
s
th
an
si
ng
le
an
tig
en
s.
A
d
en
o
si
ne
d
ea
m
in
as
e
(A
D
A
)
D
et
ec
tio
n
o
f
ho
st
ce
llu
la
r
en
zy
m
e
re
le
as
ed
b
y
ly
m
p
ho
cy
te
s
in
re
sp
o
ns
e
to
liv
e
in
tr
ac
el
lu
la
r
p
at
ho
g
en
s
T
B
p
le
ur
iti
s,
p
er
ic
ar
d
iti
s,
p
er
ito
ni
tis
M
ea
su
re
m
en
t
o
f
A
D
A
le
ve
ls
in
p
le
ur
al
,
p
er
ic
ar
d
ia
l,
an
d
as
ci
tic
flu
id
is
a
us
ef
ul
ad
ju
nc
t
te
st
fo
r
T
B
p
le
ur
iti
s,
p
er
ic
ar
d
iti
s,
an
d
p
er
ito
ni
tis
.
S
ys
te
m
at
ic
re
vi
ew
s
ha
ve
re
p
o
rt
ed
p
o
o
le
d
se
ns
iti
vi
ty
es
tim
at
es
b
et
w
ee
n
8
8
an
d
1
0
0
%
,
an
d
sp
ec
ifi
ci
ty
es
tim
at
es
b
et
w
ee
n
8
3
an
d
9
7
%
.
[1
9
,2
0
]
In
te
rf
er
o
n-
g
am
m
a
(I
F
N
-g
)
M
ea
su
re
m
en
t
o
f
IF
N
-g
T
B
p
le
ur
iti
s
P
le
ur
al
flu
id
IF
N
-g
d
et
er
m
in
at
io
n
ap
p
ea
rs
to
b
e
a
us
ef
ul
d
ia
g
no
st
ic
fo
r
T
B
p
le
ur
iti
s,
w
ith
sy
st
em
at
ic
re
vi
ew
s
re
p
o
rt
in
g
p
o
o
le
d
se
ns
iti
vi
ty
es
tim
at
es
b
et
w
ee
n
8
9
an
d
9
6
%
,
an
d
sp
ec
ifi
ci
ty
es
tim
at
es
b
et
w
ee
n
9
6
an
d
9
7
%
.
[1
9
,2
1
]
P
ha
g
e
am
p
lifi
ca
tio
n
as
sa
ys
D
et
ec
tio
n
o
f
M
yc
o
b
ac
te
ri
u
m
tu
b
er
cu
lo
si
s-
sp
ec
ifi
c
p
ha
g
e
vi
ru
se
s,
af
te
r
th
ei
r
in
fe
ct
io
n
an
d
am
p
lifi
ca
tio
n
o
f
liv
e
M
T
B
P
ul
m
o
na
ry
T
B
D
es
p
ite
hi
g
h-
ac
cu
ra
cy
es
tim
at
es
,
cu
rr
en
t
p
ha
g
e-
b
as
ed
as
sa
ys
ar
e
lim
ite
d
b
y
hi
g
h
ra
te
s
o
f
in
d
et
er
m
in
at
e
re
su
lts
(u
p
to
3
6
%
).
[2
2
]
A
ut
o
m
at
ed
liq
ui
d
cu
ltu
re
s
A
ut
o
m
at
ed
d
et
ec
tio
n
o
f
ch
an
g
es
in
o
xy
g
en
,
ca
rb
o
n
d
io
xi
d
e,
o
r
p
re
ss
ur
e
re
su
lti
ng
fr
o
m
b
ac
te
ria
l
g
ro
w
th
P
ul
m
o
na
ry
T
B
A
ut
o
m
at
ed
liq
ui
d
cu
ltu
re
s
ar
e
m
o
re
se
ns
iti
ve
th
an
so
lid
cu
ltu
re
s;
tim
e
to
d
et
ec
tio
n
is
m
o
re
ra
p
id
th
an
so
lid
cu
ltu
re
s.
[1
2
,2
3
]
D
ia
g
n
o
si
s
o
f
la
te
n
t
T
B
T
ub
er
cu
lin
sk
in
te
st
(T
S
T
)
M
ea
su
re
m
en
t
o
f
in
d
ur
at
io
n
as
a
re
su
lt
o
f
ex
p
o
su
re
to
in
tr
ad
er
m
al
tu
b
er
cu
lin
La
te
nt
T
B
in
fe
ct
io
n
In
d
iv
id
ua
ls
w
ho
ha
ve
re
ce
iv
ed
B
C
G
va
cc
in
at
io
n
ar
e
m
o
re
lik
el
y
to
ha
ve
a
p
o
si
tiv
e
T
S
T
;
th
e
ef
fe
ct
o
f
B
C
G
o
n
T
S
T
re
su
lts
is
le
ss
af
te
r
1
5
ye
ar
s;
p
o
si
tiv
e
T
S
T
w
ith
in
d
ur
at
io
ns
o
f
>
1
5
m
m
ar
e
m
o
re
lik
el
y
to
b
e
th
e
re
su
lt
o
f
T
B
in
fe
ct
io
n
th
an
o
f
B
C
G
va
cc
in
at
io
n.
[2
4
,2
5
]
T
he
ef
fe
ct
o
n
T
S
T
o
f
B
C
G
re
ce
iv
ed
in
in
fa
nc
y
is
m
in
im
al
,
es
p
ec
ia
lly
1
0
ye
ar
s
af
te
r
va
cc
in
at
io
n.
B
C
G
re
ce
iv
ed
af
te
r
in
fa
nc
y
p
ro
d
uc
es
m
o
re
fr
eq
ue
nt
,
m
o
re
p
er
si
st
en
t,
an
d
la
rg
er
T
S
T
re
ac
tio
ns
.
N
o
nt
ub
er
cu
lo
us
m
yc
o
b
ac
te
ria
l
(N
T
M
)
in
fe
ct
io
n
is
no
t
a
cl
in
ic
al
ly
im
p
o
rt
an
t
ca
us
e
o
f
fa
ls
e-
p
o
si
tiv
e
T
S
T
,
ex
ce
p
t
in
p
o
p
ul
at
io
ns
w
ith
a
hi
g
h
p
re
va
le
nc
e
o
f
N
T
M
se
ns
iti
za
tio
n
an
d
a
ve
ry
lo
w
p
re
va
le
nc
e
o
f
T
B
in
fe
ct
io
n.
T
-c
el
l-b
as
ed
in
te
rf
er
o
n-
g
re
le
as
e
as
sa
ys
(I
G
R
A
s)
M
ea
su
re
m
en
t
o
f
IF
N
-g
re
le
as
ed
fr
o
m
ly
m
p
ho
cy
te
s
w
he
n
st
im
ul
at
ed
b
y
M
yc
o
b
ac
te
ri
u
m
tu
b
er
cu
lo
si
s-
sp
ec
ifi
c
an
tig
en
s
La
te
nt
T
B
in
fe
ct
io
n
IG
R
A
s
ha
ve
ex
ce
lle
nt
sp
ec
ifi
ci
ty
(h
ig
he
r
th
an
th
e
tu
b
er
cu
lin
sk
in
te
st
)
an
d
ar
e
un
af
fe
ct
ed
b
y
p
rio
r
B
C
G
va
cc
in
at
io
n.
[1
2
,2
6
–
2
9
]
IG
R
A
s
ca
nn
o
t
d
is
tin
g
ui
sh
b
et
w
ee
n
LT
B
I
an
d
ac
tiv
e
T
B
an
d
ha
ve
no
ro
le
fo
r
ac
tiv
e
T
B
d
ia
g
no
si
s
in
ad
ul
ts
.
U
se
d
as
an
ad
ju
nc
tiv
e
d
ia
g
no
st
ic
,
IG
R
A
s
m
ay
ai
d
in
th
e
in
ve
st
ig
at
io
n
o
f
p
ed
ia
tr
ic
T
B
.
IG
R
A
s
co
rr
el
at
e
w
el
l
w
ith
m
ar
ke
rs
o
f
T
B
ex
p
o
su
re
in
lo
w
-in
ci
d
en
ce
co
un
tr
ie
s.
IG
R
A
p
er
fo
rm
an
ce
ap
p
ea
rs
to
d
iff
er
in
hi
g
h-
en
d
em
ic
vs
.
lo
w
-e
nd
em
ic
co
un
tr
ie
s.
IG
R
A
se
ns
iti
vi
ty
va
rie
s
ac
ro
ss
p
o
p
ul
at
io
ns
an
d
te
nd
s
to
b
e
lo
w
er
in
hi
g
h-
en
d
em
ic
co
un
tr
ie
s
an
d
in
H
IV
-in
fe
ct
ed
in
d
iv
id
ua
ls
.
Copyright © Lippincott Williams & Wilkins. Unauthorized reproduction of this article is prohibited.
New and improved tuberculosis diagnostics Pai et al. 273
D
ia
g
n
o
si
s
o
f
d
ru
g
re
si
st
a
n
ce
P
ha
g
e
am
p
lifi
ca
tio
n
as
sa
ys
D
et
ec
tio
n
o
f
M
yc
o
b
ac
te
ri
u
m
tu
b
er
cu
lo
si
s-
sp
ec
ifi
c
p
ha
g
e
vi
ru
se
s,
af
te
r
th
ei
r
in
fe
ct
io
n
an
d
am
p
lifi
ca
tio
n
o
f
liv
e
M
T
B
þ
in
hi
b
iti
o
n
o
f
g
ro
w
th
in
p
re
se
nc
e
o
f
an
tit
ub
er
cu
lo
us
d
ru
g
s
R
ap
id
d
et
ec
tio
n
o
f
rif
am
p
ic
in
re
si
st
an
ce
W
he
n
us
ed
o
n
cu
ltu
re
is
o
la
te
s,
p
ha
g
e
as
sa
ys
ha
ve
hi
g
h
se
ns
iti
vi
ty
,
b
ut
va
ria
b
le
an
d
lo
w
er
sp
ec
ifi
ci
ty
.
In
co
nt
ra
st
,
ev
id
en
ce
is
la
ck
in
g
o
n
th
e
ac
cu
ra
cy
o
f
th
es
e
as
sa
ys
w
he
n
th
ey
ar
e
d
ire
ct
ly
ap
p
lie
d
to
sp
ut
um
sp
ec
im
en
s.
R
ec
en
t
st
ud
ie
s
ha
ve
ra
is
ed
co
nc
er
ns
ab
o
ut
co
nt
am
in
at
io
n,
fa
ls
e-
p
o
si
tiv
e
re
su
lts
,
an
d
te
ch
ni
ca
l
as
sa
y
fa
ilu
re
s.
[3
0
,3
1
]
Li
ne
p
ro
b
e
as
sa
ys
:
IN
N
O
-L
iP
A
R
if.
T
B
[L
iP
A
]
an
d
G
en
o
T
yp
e
M
T
B
D
R
as
sa
y
D
et
ec
tio
n
o
f
g
en
et
ic
se
q
ue
nc
es
as
so
ci
at
ed
w
ith
re
si
st
an
ce
(a
ft
er
ex
tr
ac
tio
n
an
d
am
p
lifi
ca
tio
n)
us
in
g
im
m
o
b
ili
ze
d
p
ro
b
es
an
d
co
lo
rim
et
ric
d
ev
el
o
p
m
en
t
R
ap
id
d
et
ec
tio
n
o
f
rif
am
p
ic
in
re
si
st
an
ce
Li
P
A
is
a
hi
g
hl
y
se
ns
iti
ve
an
d
sp
ec
ifi
c
te
st
fo
r
th
e
d
et
ec
tio
n
o
f
rif
am
p
ic
in
re
si
st
an
ce
in
cu
ltu
re
is
o
la
te
s.
T
he
te
st
ha
s
re
la
tiv
el
y
lo
w
er
se
ns
iti
vi
ty
w
he
n
us
ed
d
ire
ct
ly
o
n
cl
in
ic
al
sp
ec
im
en
s.
T
he
G
en
o
T
yp
e
M
T
B
D
R
as
sa
ys
ha
ve
ex
ce
lle
nt
se
ns
iti
vi
ty
an
d
sp
ec
ifi
ci
ty
fo
r
rif
am
p
ic
in
re
si
st
an
ce
ev
en
w
he
n
d
ire
ct
ly
us
ed
o
n
cl
in
ic
al
sp
ec
im
en
s.
[3
2
–
3
4
]
C
o
lo
rim
et
ric
re
d
o
x
in
d
ic
at
o
rs
(C
R
Is
)
D
et
er
m
in
at
io
n
o
f
M
IC
us
in
g
m
ic
ro
d
ilu
tio
n,
fo
llo
w
ed
b
y
ad
d
iti
o
n
o
f
re
ag
en
t
w
hi
ch
w
ill
b
ec
o
m
e
re
d
uc
ed
in
th
e
p
re
se
nc
e
o
f
ac
tiv
el
y
g
ro
w
in
g
M
T
B
re
su
lti
ng
in
a
co
lo
r
ch
an
g
e
R
ap
id
d
et
ec
tio
n
o
f
rif
am
p
ic
in
an
d
is
o
ni
az
id
re
si
st
an
ce
C
o
lo
rim
et
ric
m
et
ho
d
s
ar
e
se
ns
iti
ve
an
d
sp
ec
ifi
c
fo
r
th
e
d
et
ec
tio
n
o
f
rif
am
p
ic
in
an
d
is
o
ni
az
id
re
si
st
an
ce
in
cu
ltu
re
is
o
la
te
s.
C
R
Is
us
e
in
ex
p
en
si
ve
no
nc
o
m
m
er
ci
al
su
p
p
lie
s
an
d
eq
ui
p
m
en
t
an
d
ha
ve
a
ra
p
id
tu
rn
ar
o
un
d
tim
e
(7
d
ay
s)
.
[3
5
]
N
itr
at
e
re
d
uc
ta
se
as
sa
ys
(N
R
A
s)
D
ire
ct
o
r
in
d
ire
ct
in
o
cu
la
tio
n
o
f
d
ru
g
-f
re
e
an
d
d
ru
g
-c
o
nt
ai
ni
ng
m
ed
ia
co
nt
ai
ni
ng
K
N
O
3
.
A
d
d
iti
o
n
o
f
G
re
is
s
re
ag
en
t
d
et
ec
ts
ea
rly
g
ro
w
th
b
y
re
ac
tin
g
w
ith
en
zy
m
at
ic
b
yp
ro
d
uc
t
an
d
re
su
lti
ng
in
a
co
lo
r
ch
an
g
e.
R
ap
id
d
et
ec
tio
n
o
f
rif
am
p
ic
in
an
d
is
o
ni
az
id
re
si
st
an
ce
N
R
A
ha
s
hi
g
h
ac
cu
ra
cy
w
he
n
us
ed
to
d
et
ec
t
rif
am
p
ic
in
an
d
is
o
ni
az
id
re
si
st
an
ce
in
cu
ltu
re
is
o
la
te
s.
Li
m
ite
d
d
at
a
ar
e
av
ai
la
b
le
o
n
its
us
e
w
he
n
d
ire
ct
ly
ap
p
lie
d
to
cl
in
ic
al
sp
ec
im
en
s,
b
ut
re
su
lts
ar
e
p
ro
m
is
in
g
.
T
he
N
R
A
is
si
m
p
le
,
us
es
in
ex
p
en
si
ve
no
nc
o
m
m
er
ci
al
su
p
p
lie
s
an
d
eq
ui
p
m
en
t,
an
d
ha
s
a
ra
p
id
tu
rn
ar
o
un
d
tim
e
(7
–
1
4
d
ay
s)
co
m
p
ar
ed
to
co
nv
en
tio
na
l
m
et
ho
d
s.
[3
6
]
M
ic
ro
sc
o
p
ic
o
b
se
rv
at
io
n
d
ru
g
su
sc
ep
tib
ili
ty
(M
O
D
S
)
D
ire
ct
o
r
in
d
ire
ct
in
o
cu
la
tio
n
o
f
d
ru
g
-f
re
e
an
d
d
ru
g
-c
o
nt
ai
ni
ng
liq
ui
d
m
ed
ia
,
fo
llo
w
ed
b
y
ex
am
in
at
io
n
us
in
g
an
in
ve
rt
ed
m
ic
ro
sc
o
p
e
to
d
et
ec
t
ea
rly
g
ro
w
th
R
ap
id
d
et
ec
tio
n
o
f
rif
am
p
ic
in
an
d
is
o
ni
az
id
re
si
st
an
ce
M
O
D
S
ha
s
hi
g
h
ac
cu
ra
cy
w
he
n
te
st
in
g
fo
r
rif
am
p
ic
in
re
si
st
an
ce
,
b
ut
sh
o
w
s
sl
ig
ht
ly
lo
w
er
se
ns
iti
vi
ty
w
he
n
d
et
ec
tin
g
is
o
ni
az
id
re
si
st
an
ce
.
M
O
D
S
ap
p
ea
rs
to
p
er
fo
rm
eq
ua
lly
w
el
l
us
in
g
d
ire
ct
p
at
ie
nt
sp
ec
im
en
s
an
d
cu
ltu
re
is
o
la
te
s.
M
O
D
S
us
es
no
nc
o
m
m
er
ci
al
su
p
p
lie
s
an
d
eq
ui
p
m
en
t,
an
d
ha
s
a
ra
p
id
tu
rn
ar
o
un
d
tim
e
(1
0
d
ay
s)
co
m
p
ar
ed
w
ith
co
nv
en
tio
na
l
m
et
ho
d
s.
[3
7
]
T
hi
n
la
ye
r
ag
ar
(T
LA
)
D
ire
ct
o
r
in
d
ire
ct
in
o
cu
la
tio
n
o
f
d
ru
g
-f
re
e
an
d
d
ru
g
-c
o
nt
ai
ni
ng
so
lid
m
ed
ia
,
fo
llo
w
ed
b
y
ex
am
in
at
io
n
us
in
g
a
m
ic
ro
sc
o
p
e
to
d
et
ec
t
ea
rly
g
ro
w
th
R
ap
id
d
et
ec
tio
n
o
f
rif
am
p
ic
in
an
d
is
o
ni
az
id
re
si
st
an
ce
T
he
re
is
a
p
au
ci
ty
o
f
d
at
a
ev
al
ua
tin
g
T
LA
fo
r
th
e
d
et
ec
tio
n
o
f
d
ru
g
su
sc
ep
tib
ili
ty
;
ho
w
ev
er
,
al
l
st
ud
ie
s
to
d
at
e
ha
ve
fo
un
d
1
0
0
%
co
nc
o
rd
an
ce
w
ith
th
ei
r
re
fe
re
nc
e
st
an
d
ar
d
s.
T
LA
us
es
in
ex
p
en
si
ve
no
nc
o
m
m
er
ci
al
su
p
p
lie
s
an
d
eq
ui
p
m
en
t,
an
d
ha
s
a
ra
p
id
tu
rn
ar
o
un
d
tim
e
(1
1
d
ay
s)
co
m
p
ar
ed
w
ith
co
nv
en
tio
na
l
m
et
ho
d
s.
[3
7
]
B
C
G
,b
ac
ill
us
C
al
m
et
te
-G
ue´
rin
;L
E
D
,l
ig
ht
em
itt
in
g
d
io
d
e;
LT
B
I,
la
te
nt
T
B
in
fe
ct
io
n;
M
IC
,m
in
im
al
in
hi
b
ito
ry
co
nc
en
tr
at
io
n;
M
T
B
,M
yc
o
b
ac
te
ri
u
m
tu
b
er
cu
lo
si
s;
T
B
,t
ub
er
cu
lo
si
s.
A
d
ap
te
d
fr
o
m
[6
� ]
.(
O
p
en
A
cc
es
s
un
d
er
C
re
at
iv
e
C
o
m
m
o
ns
A
tt
rib
ut
io
n
Li
ce
ns
e)
.
Copyrigh
because a large proportion of TB diagnostic research
studies are focused on measuring test accuracy. Findings
from systematic reviews suggest that even relatively
straightforward studies of test accuracy are often poorly
designed and reported [38,39]. Both researchers of
primary TB diagnostic studies and authors of systematic
reviews and meta-analyses need to make efforts to follow
published guidelines for conducting and reporting their
work [40,41], to make the most of their contribution to a
useful and unbiased literature base.
Although the quality of diagnostic studies measuring test
accuracy is important, evidence about test accuracy is
only one link in a long chain of activities that make up the
pathway to developing and implementing a new TB
diagnostic. In 2009, the Stop TB Partnership’s New
Diagnostics Working Group published a scientific blue-
print for development of new TB diagnostics [42��]. This
publication provides a comprehensive, well referenced
plan to guide researchers, clinicians, industry partners,
academics, and TB controllers in all sectors in all aspects
of TB ��
needs’ a
to test d
scale-up
impact.
As show
but poli
test acc
to consi
outcom
sophisti
[43,44],
diagnos
relevant
outcom
increased number of patients detected and receiving
appropriate treatment, fewer patients defaulting from
the dia