NEW TOOLS FOR THE DIAGNOSIS OF TUBERCULOSIS - THE PERSPECTIVE OF DEVELOPING-COUNTRIES

New diagnostics for tuberculosis are urgently needed to replace or fac ilitate acid-fast bacilli (AFB) microscopy for the identification of s mear-positive cases, and to improve the diagnosis of AFB smear-negativ e cases. These need to be appropriate for use in low income countries. Tests to replace or facilitate AFB microscopy must offer improvements to this test, including increased sensitivity, speed, ease of use, an d safety. Products to improve the identification of smear-negative cas es should focus on the diagnosis of patients with paucibacillary pulmo nary disease, including children and human immunodeficiency virus (HN) infected persons, and those with extrapulmonary forms of tuberculosis .