The Rapid Communication is released in advance of updated WHO consolidated guidelines for diagnosis of TB, later in 2023, to inform national TB programmes and other stakeholders of key changes expected in the available options for detection of TB drug resistance and to allow for rapid transition and planning at the country level. Further guidance will also be announced soon covering practical information on the steps to introduction of sequencing and the updated catalogue of mutations.
It is good news to see WHO release this rapid communication on use of tNGS.
MSF team and colleagues, recently published findings on how to operationalize tNGS for diagnosis of DR-TB, within a public health reference laboratory in Mumbai, India. See two recent articles attached.