The Stop TB Partnership; the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria; and the US Agency for International Development (USAID) today announced a collaboration with India's Molbio Diagnostics to bring down the cost of rapid molecular tests for tuberculosis (TB).

The deal will provide three of Molbio's rapid molecular assays (Truenat MTB, MTB Plus, and MTB-RIF Dx) at a reduced cost in the countries supported by the three organizations. The tests were endorsed by the World Health Organization in 2020 for the diagnosis of TB and detection of drug-resistant TB in adults and children, but high operating costs and insufficient infrastructure have been among the barriers to uptake. Less than 40% of people in need of TB testing in 2021 had access to rapid tests.

USAID will provide guidance and best practices for introducing and scaling up the tests in high–TB-burden countries.

"USAID is committed to creating a TB-free world, and that starts with expanding access to critical diagnostic testing to reach every person with TB," Atul Gawande, MD, MPH, USAID's assistant administrator for global health, said in a press release. "This new technology will allow countries to expand rapid TB diagnostic testing to more rural, hard-to-reach populations at the primary care level—and at a significantly lower cost than current testing options."

"We are thrilled by this collaboration with a company from the highest TB burden country that fully understands the need for securing access to a rapid molecular diagnosis for everyone in need," said Stop TB Partnership Executive Director Lucica Ditiu, MD.

The collaboration will extend similar pricing to private- and public-sector buyers and ensure regular maintenance of the testing equipment.