On December 5th, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that a test developed by the American company Cepheid can detect tuberculosis bacteria in sputum samples within just a few hours.
The WHO has officially approved the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra rapid and accurate diagnostic method for tuberculosis, a disease that claimed the lives of 1.25 million people worldwide last year.
According to the announcement on December 5th, the test developed by Cepheid has the ability to detect the bacteria that cause tuberculosis in sputum samples in a matter of hours.
Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra can identify drug-resistant strains. (Source: MSF).
Moreover, the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra can also identify drug-resistant strains, assisting doctors in providing more effective treatment protocols.
The WHO’s approval of this test marks a significant milestone in the global effort to enhance the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis.
By providing a rapid, accurate, and easy-to-use diagnostic tool, the WHO hopes to help countries, particularly those with a high burden of tuberculosis, improve their capacity for early detection and treatment of patients, thereby limiting the spread of the disease and reducing mortality.
According to the latest report from the WHO, the number of new tuberculosis cases globally has reached a record high in 2023, with approximately 8.2 million people affected—the highest number since monitoring and surveillance of the disease began in 1995.
Five countries—India, Indonesia, China, the Philippines, and Pakistan—account for more than half of all tuberculosis cases globally, with India alone contributing to a quarter of these cases.
The WHO reported that with 1.25 million deaths due to tuberculosis, this disease may have returned as the leading cause of death worldwide from a single infectious agent, after three years of being overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
