Reducing the Global Burden of Tuberculosis: The Contribution of Improved Diagnostics

Emmett Keeler, RAND
Mark D. Perkins, Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics
Peter Small, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation
Christy Hanson, United States Agency for International Development
Steven Reed, Infectious Disease Research Institute
Jane Cunningham, World Health Organization
Julia E. Aledort, RAND
Lee Hillborne, RAND
Maria E. Rafael, RAND
Federico Girosi, RAND
Christopher Dye, World Health Organization

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of disease and death, with ~2 billion people infected and ~2 million deaths annually. Sputum smear microscopy (SSM) has remained the cornerstone of TB diagnosis for more than a century and is a pillar of the global strategy to control the disease, although it has significant limitations. As the epidemic continues, more attention is being paid to the impact that improving existing diagnostic methods and introducing new procedures might have in resource-limited settings. We estimated the potential global impact of better diagnostic tests, to provide guidance for health-care workers, test developers, funding agencies and policymakers.