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Diagnostic Tools Initiative Yields Ambitious Research Agenda PDF Print E-mail
In the last few months, TREAT TB has taken many steps to improve international policy recommendations on new diagnostic tools. In October, TREAT TB partners McGill University and the Desmond Tutu TB Centre began a systematic review of Interferon-Gamma Release Assays (IGRAs) for the detection of latent TB infection in children. This study seeks to determine the value of IGRAs in high versus low-burden settings, HIV-infected patients, and children of different age groups. Demonstrating whether or not this tool can facilitate the identification of TB infection in children in different epidemiologic settings will enable clinicians and policy-makers to use this technology more effectively. The review is expected to be finalized by mid-2010. TREAT TB is also moving ahead with a field evaluation study of Line Probe Assays (LPAs) with a multi-partner research team. To optimize the uptake and use of this technology, the TREAT TB team has identified the primary research questions and is currently developing a generic study protocol, which will later be adapted to specific country contexts. The field evaluation studies are expected to begin in July 2010 in South Africa, Brazil, and the Russian Federation.

To further improve the information available to national decision-makers, TREAT TB has assembled an expert modeling team to construct an innovative modeling approach to provide national decision-makers with better information to make important decisions regarding the adoption of diagnostic tools and tools packages. The TREAT TB approach will focus on assessing the impact of the new diagnostic tools and tools packages on TB transmission as well as their impact and requirements in the context of health systems.