The World Health Organization (WHO) has added the Xpert MTB/XDR test to its list of prequalified diagnostics, marking a significant advancement in global efforts to combat tuberculosis (TB).
The Xpert MTB/XDR is a molecular diagnostic tool that provides rapid drug susceptibility testing (DST) for TB, helping clinicians identify resistance to key anti-TB drugs. When used in combination with the frontline Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra test, it can detect resistance to isoniazid (INH), fluoroquinolones (FLQ), second-line injectable drugs (SLIDs), and ethionamide (ETH).
According to WHO, the inclusion of this test in the prequalified list ensures it meets international standards of quality, safety, and performance. This is expected to strengthen diagnostic capacity in low- and middle-income countries, where timely detection of drug-resistant TB remains a major public health challenge.
The new listing aligns with WHO’s ongoing efforts to improve access to rapid and accurate TB diagnostics, a critical step toward achieving the global goal of ending TB as a public health threat by 2030.