WHO consolidated guidelines on tuberculosis: module 3: diagnosis

This fourth edition of the WHO consolidated guidelines on tuberculosis, Module 3: diagnosis, provides updated evidence-based recommendations for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) infection, TB disease and drug-resistant TB. The publication responds to the continuing global burden of TB and the need for rapid, accurate and accessible diagnostic approaches to support early detection, treatment initiation and prevention efforts. It consolidates previous WHO policy guidance into a single reference document and incorporates new evidence on molecular WHO-recommended rapid diagnostic tests, concurrent testing strategies and technologies for the detection of drug resistance and TB infection.

The guideline presents 21 recommendations covering low- and moderate-complexity nucleic acid amplification tests, line probe assays, targeted next-generation sequencing, lateral flow urine lipoarabinomannan assays, tuberculin skin tests and interferon-gamma release assays. It introduces new diagnostic test classes and updated recommendations for concurrent testing among people living with HIV and children. Developed according to WHO guideline development procedures and the GRADE methodology, the document also outlines implementation considerations, diagnostic class determination pathways and operational guidance to support national TB programmes, laboratories, clinicians and policy-makers in strengthening TB diagnostic services and universal access to quality-assured testing.