The World Health Organization has released new tuberculosis diagnostic recommendations, introducing near-point-of-care molecular tests, tongue swab sampling and cost-saving testing strategies to expand access and improve detection worldwide.
March 2026- World Health Organization has issued new recommendations aimed at improving the diagnosis of tuberculosis, introducing guidance for the first time on near-point-of-care molecular tests, tongue swab samples, and a sputum pooling strategy to expand access to testing and improve efficiency.
The new recommendations include the use of near-point-of-care molecular diagnostic tools designed to deliver rapid results closer to patients, as well as the adoption of easy-to-collect tongue swab samples to simplify testing procedures. WHO also highlighted a sputum pooling approach that can help reduce costs and increase testing capacity for tuberculosis and rifampicin-resistant TB.
Under the WHO End TB Strategy and commitments made during the United Nations High Level Meeting on Tuberculosis, countries have pledged to strengthen early diagnosis and ensure universal access to rapid molecular testing recommended by WHO. However, significant diagnostic gaps remain, with millions of people still experiencing delayed or missed diagnoses.
Health experts attribute these challenges to several systemic barriers, including the continued reliance on sputum samples that some patients are unable to produce, limited access to laboratory-based testing in many care settings, and the high cost of diagnostic equipment and tests, which restricts the expansion of testing networks.
To help countries strengthen the detection of tuberculosis and drug-resistant forms of the disease, WHO regularly updates evidence-based policy guidance on TB diagnostics. Following the release of consolidated guidelines on TB diagnosis in 2025, new evidence on diagnostic technologies, sample types and testing strategies has prompted further updates.
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As a result, the WHO consolidated guidelines on tuberculosis, Module 3: Diagnosis, second edition, have been revised and are expected to be published in the coming weeks.
“These new WHO recommendations mark a major step forward in making TB testing faster and more accessible,” said Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Department for HIV, TB, Hepatitis & STIs. “WHO urges countries and partners to work together to roll out these guidelines to close persistent diagnostic gaps and ensure that everyone with TB can be diagnosed early and start life-saving treatment without delay.”
