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Tuberculosis

First subregional workshop on rapid TB diagnosis and rifampicin resistance

18-01-2012
Photo: KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation

To facilitate the introduction of the Xpert® Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)/resistance to rifampicin (RIF) assay in the central Asian Region, WHO/Europe in collaboration with KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation, held a subregional workshop in Almaty on 15-16 November 2011, within the framework of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) TB CARE I project. The aim of this workshop was to update participants on the laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis and provide background information on WHO endorsed TB diagnostics and in particular on the Xpert® MTB/RIF assay.

During the workshop sessions were dedicated to:

  • the recent developments in the laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis
  • the selection of individuals to test with Xpert® MTB/RIF and practical considerations
  • country experiences with the Xpert® MTB/RIF system
  • new diagnostic algorithms and management of patients
  • operational research and future perspectives.

Delegates were split up into working groups by country to discuss and subsequently present to the whole group their country’s current TB diagnostic practices and, following the recommendations provided, develop a new diagnostic algorithm and the selection criteria for the individuals to be tested, specific to these countries.

The workshop was attended by 55 delegates; including 24 national representatives from Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, the Kazakh TB programme implementation unit of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM); and 31 representatives from international organizations including USAID, and the USAID Quality Health Care Project, Medicines Sans Frontiers (MSF) Holland and the USAID TB CARE I Project KNCV representative office in central Asia and facilitators. These delegates included representatives of national TB programmes, TB laboratories, TB specialists of the ministries of health and of the penitentiary system. The participants rated the overall impression of the workshop very good to excellent and expressed their interest in a follow-up workshop.