January 29 2026 LabCoP Extended ECHO: Scaling up Molecular Tuberculosis Diagnosis

Описание: January 29, 2026
This Session focuses on examine strategies, lessons learned, and evidence from countries expanding access to rapid molecular diagnostics for tuberculosis, with actionable insights for policymakers, program managers, and partners working to close the TB diagnostic gap.

Globally, just over half of the people with tuberculosis are tested using a WHO-recommended molecular diagnostic when they first seek care. This diagnostic gap leaves an estimated 3 million people without diagnosis and treatment each year, resulting in lost income, continued transmission, and avoidable loss of life. This session will highlight best practices in improving access to rapid molecular diagnostics for tuberculosis, drawing on lessons from two countries that have made notable progress:

Côte d'Ivoire: We will explore the strategies adopted to integrate molecular tuberculosis diagnosis into national strategies to fight the disease, review the results achieved to date, and highlight best practices. Key implementation challenges and the solutions adopted to overcome them will be shared.

Republic of Congo: We will present findings from a published operational research study assessing progress in TB diagnostic capacity and laboratory network performance between 2018 and 2024.

Presenters:
Dr Darrel Ornelle Assiana, Molecular Biologist and Head of the National Reference Mycobacteria Laboratory (LNRM) of the National Tuberculosis Control Program in the Republic of Congo.

Dr ADAGRA Guy Damien, MD/MSc, Laboratory Officer, National Tuberculosis Control Program, Côte d'Ivoire.