Evidence Based Tuberculosis Diagnosis

In 2001 the Stop TB Partnership formed the Stop TB Partnership's New Diagnostics Working Group (NDWG) and the NWDG is now online

Madhukar Pai from McGill University plays a key role in the NDWG and his work enjoys an unrivalled prominence

In their expert review paper TB diagnostic tests: how do we figure out their costs? the expert reviewers, including Madhukar Pai, caution that

With no ultimate ‘gold standard’ test in TB, readers (policy makers) as well as study investigators must be always cautious in declaring one test as ‘cost-effective’ against another.

...there are currently no widely accepted standards on how to evaluate costs of a TB test

and they advise that

In the next few years, we hope to develop a standardized tool for costing of any TB diagnostic

No doubt their hopes and wishes are well intended however this work should not further frustrate or delay the work of those already charged with the responsibilty to ending the neglect, the very same neglect that allows TB to flourish.