WHO issues guidance for studies of new tuberculosis tests

The guidance calls for evidence on health outcomes, costs and practical use alongside diagnostic accuracy.

Hamroclassified desk22 October 20262 min read

Event / source date: 21 October 2026
Published: 22 Oct 2026, 20:20 (Asia/Kathmandu) · 2026-10-22T14:35:00Z (UTC)

World original editorial illustration — Original Hamroclassified editorial illustration. Not a photograph of the event.

The World Health Organization released guidance on October 21 for studies generating evidence about new tuberculosis tests.

Aimed at researchers, test developers and funders, it explains how to generate evidence needed for WHO recommendations on new tests, specimen types and testing strategies.

The guidance covers study design, participant selection, sample size and reporting. It also emphasizes assessing patient health outcomes, cost-effectiveness, equitable access, acceptability and feasibility, alongside test accuracy.

WHO says some earlier studies lacked enough information about the participation of relevant groups and the settings in which tests could be used, making evidence review difficult. The guidance aims to improve study design and reporting.