TB World Day: Advancing Tuberculosis Diagnostics to End TB by 2035

The global goal to eliminate tuberculosis (TB) by 2035 demands urgent action. Diagnostic advancements will play a crucial role in achieving this target, ensuring early detection and timely treatment. We must share this message—through media, forums, and within the scientific community—to highlight the impact of our work.

At the National Reference Laboratory, we lead the fight against tuberculosis with our Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) laboratory, designed for advanced mycobacteriology testing. We employ multiple acid-fast bacilli (AFB) staining techniques—Ziehl-Neelsen, Kinyoun, and Fluorescent Auramine-Rhodamine—to improve the accuracy and efficiency of smear microscopy.

Our automated tuberculosis culture system enables rapid and reliable detection of mycobacterial growth. We conduct first-line Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) drug susceptibility testing to identify drug-resistant strains early and guide treatment. To enhance the identification of tuberculosis and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), also known as Mycobacteria Other Than Tuberculosis (MOTT), we use matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry, a cutting-edge tool for precise, species-level classification.

We also perform rapid Mycobacterium tuberculosis polymerase chain reaction (MTB PCR) testing to detect tuberculosis bacteria and resistance to key anti-tuberculosis drugs. This molecular approach reduces diagnostic turnaround time, allowing for faster clinical decisions and improved patient management.

Beyond diagnostics, our laboratory staff contributed to a recent publication: Epidemiological Trends and Forecasting of Tuberculosis Burden in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) Countries: Evidence from Global Burden of Disease 1990 to 2021. The study found that tuberculosis control efforts in Gulf Cooperation Council countries have improved, reflecting successful public health interventions. However, challenges persist, especially among migrant populations. Using autoregressive integrated moving average (ARIMA) models, the study predicts a steady decline in tuberculosis incidence, disability-adjusted life years (DALYs), and mortality through 2030:

• Tuberculosis incidence is expected to drop from 28.4 per 100,000 in 2022 to 5.4 per 100,000 by 2031.
• Mortality rates are projected to fall from 3.9 to 2.4 per 100,000 in the same period.

With these capabilities, alongside Capital Health Screening Center’s daily screening X-rays, we stand at the forefront of tuberculosis elimination. Through innovation and collaboration, we strengthen diagnostics, accelerate progress, and bring the world closer to a future free of tuberculosis.