This week WAidid suggests to read "The Global Laboratory Initiative. GLI Model TB Diagnostic Algorithms".

SUMMARY

The Global Laboratory Initiative has released this handbook that provides 4 model algorithms that graphically depict the most up-to-date WHO recommendations on use of TB diagnostics.

The algorithms follow the principles of the End TB Strategy to provide universal access to rapid testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex bacteria (MTB) and drug susceptibility testing (DST), and include the use of Xpert MTB/RIF, line probe assays for 2nd line drugs, the lateral flow urine lipoarabinomannan (LF-LAM) assay and the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (TB-LAMP) test, together with conventional tools including microscopy and phenotypic culture and DST.

The 4 algorithms, which are illustrative and must be adapted by countries to the local situation, include:

1. a preferred algorithm for universal patient access to rapid testing to detect MTB and rifampicin resistance;
2. an interim algorithm moving towards universal access, with rapid testing for priority populations;
3. an algorithm for testing for second-line drug resistance among rifampicin-resistant TB or MDR-TB patients;
4. an algorithm for evaluating persons for TB, among PLHIV who are seriously ill with danger signs or have CD4 counts ≤ 100 cells/μl.

AUTHORS: Wayne van Gemert, Thomas Shinnick and Heidi Albert, Heather Alexander, Martina Casenghi, Lucilaine Ferrazoli, Levan Gagnidze, Alaine Umubyeyi Nyaruhirira, Amy Piatek, Alena Skrahina, Khairunisa Suleiman, Elisa Tagliani, Sabira Tahseen, Nguyen Van Hung, Maarten van Cleeff, Chen-Yuan Chiang, Daniela Cirillo, Agnes Gebhard, Dennis Falzon, Fuad Mirzayev, Alexei Korobitsyn, Christopher Gilpin, Ernesto Jaramillo, Annabel Baddeley, Yohhei Hamada, Avinash Kanchar and Karin Weyer, Rumina Hasan, Richard Lumb, Arnaud Trebucq, Armand Van Deun and Fraser Wares.

Read the full article here.