Virtual Meeting: Updated WHO Recommendations for the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis

Introduction

The Pan American Health Organiza􀆟on (PAHO) invites countries in the Region to participate in the first series of webinars dedicated to innovaitons in tuberculosis (TB) diagnostics to be held during 2026. For this mee􀆟ng, the new recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) will be presented, with emphasis on the research carried out by Unitaid's Star4All project on pooled sputum testing.

During the session, other innovations such as the molecular platform near point of care (NPOC) and the evidence supporting the use of lingual swabs for low-complexity nucleic acid amplification tests will also be addressed.

These innovations represent an important step forward as a strategy to improve efficiency and save resources to support national programmes in expanding TB diagnostics, in line with regional commitments to eliminate TB.

Meeting Recording

Agenda

10:00 – 10:10 a.m.

Opening: Welcome and Webinar Objectives

Pedro Avedillo, PAHO
Patricia Hall, OMS

10:10 – 10:30 am

New WHO recommendations on TB diagnosis

Ernesto Montoro, PAHO

10:30 – 10:40 a.m.

Start4All Initiative and Unitaid Priorities

Luca Occhini, Unitaid

10:40-10:50 a.m.

Start4All Project Introduction

Tom Wingfield, LSTM
 

10:50 – 11:10 a.m.

Concept of and performance of pooled sputum testing: Diagnostic accuracy and efficiency from Start4All experience in seven countries

Ana Isabel Cubas Atienzar, LSTM

11:10 – 11:25 a.m.

Experience of pooled sputum testing in Brazil

Victor Santana Santos, UFS

11:10 – 11:25 a.m.

Questions and Answers

Ernesto Montoro (PAHO)
Ana Isabel Cubas Atienzar (LSTM)
Victor Santana Santos (UFS)
Tom Wingfield (LSTM)

11:40 – 11:45 a.m.

Closing Remarks

PAHO