WHO operational handbook on tuberculosis Module 3: Diagnosis - Rapid diagnostics for tuberculosis detection

Overview

With new emerging technologies to diagnose tuberculosis (TB) and drug-resistant TB (DR-TB), the World Health Organization (WHO) has updated and consolidated its guidance on TB detection by convening a guideline development group meeting in December 2019 and then by releasing the WHO Consolidated Guidelines on Tuberculosis. Module 3: Diagnosis - Rapid diagnostics for tuberculosis detection” in June 2020. These guidelines include a comprehensive set of WHO recommendations, grouping all the new and existing recommendations on the diagnosis of TB and DR-TB in one document.

The consolidated guidelines are complemented by an operational handbook which is designed to assist with implementation of the WHO recommendations by Member States, technical partners and others who are involved in the management of patients with TB and DR-TB.

The “WHO Operational Handbook on Tuberculosis, Module 3. Diagnosis - Rapid diagnostics for tuberculosis detection” provides step-by-step advice on ways to implement and scale up recommendations to achieve local and national impact. The handbook includes model algorithms for the different technologies. Each algorithm describes the situations for which it is intended and walks the reader through different decision pathways, starting with individuals presenting at hospitals, clinics or under outreach activities. A final annex provides an overview of budgetary considerations in order to implement the recommendations.