On this World TB Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) has called on countries worldwide to step up efforts to end tuberculosis (TB) by expanding access to innovative diagnostic technologies. The new guidelines highlight the potential of point-of-care tests and tongue swabs to enable faster detection and treatment, reaching more people in need.
WHO’s latest recommendations focus on portable, easy-to-use diagnostic tools that can be operated on battery power and deliver results in less than an hour. These cost-effective solutions, priced at less than half of many existing molecular diagnostics, aim to bring TB testing closer to communities and healthcare settings where people seek care routinely. Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, emphasized the transformative potential of these tools, saying, “They could be truly game-changing—saving lives, reducing transmission, and lowering costs.”
In addition to these innovations, the guidelines endorse the use of tongue swab samples, which enable TB testing among adults and adolescents unable to produce sputum. They also recommend a sputum pooling strategy, combining samples from multiple individuals to increase testing efficiency and reduce costs—especially vital in resource-limited settings.
Despite significant progress—saving an estimated 83 million lives since 2000—TB remains a leading cause of death globally, claiming over 3,300 lives daily. Progress is threatened by funding cuts and challenges in deploying rapid diagnostic tools, which are often hindered by high costs and reliance on centralized laboratories.
WHO advocates scaling up proven solutions, including point-of-care urine tests for people living with HIV and low- or moderate-complexity tests for all populations, to bridge diagnostic gaps. These efforts are critical to achieving universal access to TB and drug resistance testing, reducing treatment delays, and curbing transmission.
This year’s World TB Day theme, “Yes! We can end TB: Led by countries, powered by people,” underscores the urgency of action. WHO urges governments and partners to accelerate the deployment of near-patient testing technologies, strengthen community engagement, build resilient health systems, and address social determinants driving TB.
“Investing in TB is a strategic political and economic choice, generating up to US$43 in health and economic returns for every dollar spent,” said Dr. Tereza Kasaeva, WHO’s Department Director for HIV, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis, and STIs. She stressed that decisive leadership, strategic investments, and rapid implementation of WHO’s recommendations are essential to saving lives and protecting communities.
While new diagnostics mark significant progress, ending TB will require sustained investment in research and innovation. Currently, global funding for TB research remains far below the estimated US$5 billion needed annually, hindering the development of new diagnostics, medicines, and vaccines.
WHO is collaborating with partners through initiatives like the TB Vaccine Accelerator Council to accelerate the development and equitable access to new TB vaccines. As countries observe World TB Day 2026, WHO emphasizes the importance of prioritizing TB within broader health security and universal health coverage efforts.
