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TropicalMed
Special Issues
Tuberculosis Diagnosis: Current, Ongoing and Future Approaches
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Tuberculosis Diagnosis: Current, Ongoing and Future Approaches

A special issue of Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease (ISSN 2414-6366). This special issue belongs to the section "Infectious Diseases".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 June 2026 | Viewed by 3890

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Philippa J. Randall

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
2. Antrum Biotech, Old Main Building, Groote Schuur Hospital, Observatory, Cape Town 7925, South Africa
Interests: tuberculosis; diagnostics; immunology; biomarker discovery

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant global health challenge, with millions affected annually. This Special Issue, entitled ‘Tuberculosis Diagnosis: Current, Ongoing and Future Approaches’, aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the diagnostic landscape, highlighting advancements, ongoing research, and future directions in TB diagnostics.

This Special Issue aims to focus on traditional diagnostic methods, which, despite their limitations, remain widely used in many regions. We also aim to explore the integration of molecular diagnostics, which have improved the sensitivity and specificity of TB detection.

Future directions in TB diagnostics involve the development of rapid, accurate, and cost-effective point-of-care diagnostics. This includes the exploration of novel biomarkers for non-sputum-based tests and the application of artificial intelligence in radiological imaging to enhance diagnostic accuracy. These are crucial for populations unable to produce sputum, such as children and severely ill patients.

This Special Issue also aims to focus on the challenges faced in resource-limited settings and the need for diagnostics that can address drug-resistant TB strains. The potential of multiomics approaches and the discovery of theranostic markers for personalized treatment regimens will also be explored, thereby emphasising the importance of aligning diagnostic advancements with shorter TB drug regimens and improving healthcare delivery systems to ensure the uptake of new technologies.

Contributions to this Special Issue should aim to provide a platform for discussing the current state and future prospects of TB diagnostics. By highlighting innovative approaches and addressing existing challenges, we seek to aid in the global effort to combat TB effectively. The ultimate goal is to ensure that diagnostic advancements are accessible and applicable across diverse healthcare settings, thereby improving TB management and outcomes worldwide.

Dr. Philippa J. Randall
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Tropical Medicine and Infectious Disease is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • tuberculosis
  • diagnostics
  • drug-resistant tuberculosis
  • point-of-care
  • novel biomarkers
  • multiomics approaches

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 1194 KB  
Article
Strengthening the National Reference Laboratory in the Republic of Congo: An Investment Imperative for Tuberculosis Diagnostics
by Darrel Ornelle Elion Assiana, Franck Hardain Okemba-Okombi, Salomon Tchuandom Bonsi, Freisnel Hermeland Mouzinga, Juliet E. Bryant, Jean Akiana, Tanou Joseph Kalivogui, Alain Disu Kamalandua, Nuccia Saleri, Lionel Caruana, Hugues Traoré Asken and Dissou Affolabi
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2026, 11(1), 23; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed11010023 - 13 Jan 2026
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Abstract
National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratories (NTRLs) are central to tuberculosis (TB) control programs. Between 2018 and 2024, the Republic of Congo, a country of 6 million inhabitants, achieved a transformative strengthening of its TB diagnostic system, coordinated by the NTRL. Strategic investments, supported mainly [...] Read more.
National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratories (NTRLs) are central to tuberculosis (TB) control programs. Between 2018 and 2024, the Republic of Congo, a country of 6 million inhabitants, achieved a transformative strengthening of its TB diagnostic system, coordinated by the NTRL. Strategic investments, supported mainly by international partners, enabled a substantial decentralization of services, expanding the diagnostic network from 38 to 113 diagnostic and testing centers and increasing GeneXpert sites from 3 to 31. The expansion of the diagnostic network and specimen referral system was associated with a reduced structural gap in diagnostic coverage by extending access to GeneXpert testing to a larger number of peripheral and previously underserved centers. Critically, the establishment of a BSL-3 laboratory and the deployment of advanced assays like Xpert MTB/XDR ended the reliance on overseas testing by introducing in-country capacity for multidrug-resistant and pre-extensively drug-resistant TB detection. These systemic improvements were associated with significant positive outcomes, including an annual molecular testing surging from 11,609 in 2022 to over 27,000 in 2024 and bacteriological confirmation rates rising from 34 to 73%. This comprehensive laboratory systems strengthening, which also facilitated cross-programmatic initiatives like HIV and Mpox testing integration, underscores how sustained investment in infrastructure, logistics, and quality management is fundamental to improving case detection, surveillance, and progress toward the WHO End TB Strategy milestones. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tuberculosis Diagnosis: Current, Ongoing and Future Approaches)
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11 pages, 353 KB  
Article
Comparison of Interferon-Gamma Release Assay and Tuberculin Skin Test in Screening for Latent Tuberculous Infection Among Students from High-Burden Areas: A Prospective Head-to-Head Study in Qingdao, China
by Zhongdong Wang, Kun Zhang, Haiyan Sun, Xuekui Li, Song Song, Meng Chen, Honghong Xu, Huaqiang Zhang, Yu Pang and Xiaoqi Dai
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2025, 10(11), 311; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed10110311 - 31 Oct 2025
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Abstract
Background: Identifying latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is critical for pediatric TB control in China, especially among students from high-burden areas. With no gold-standard test, we compared the tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA), focusing on factors related to test discordance. [...] Read more.
Background: Identifying latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is critical for pediatric TB control in China, especially among students from high-burden areas. With no gold-standard test, we compared the tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA), focusing on factors related to test discordance. Materials and Methods: TST was administered to 1047 local and 900 migrant students; all migrants also received IGRA. TST cutoffs of 5 mm and 10 mm were applied. Agreement was measured using Cohen’s Kappa, and determinants of discordance were analyzed with binary logistic regression. Results: Migrant students had higher TST positivity than locals (28.89% vs. 19.67%, p < 0.001). The agreement between IGRA and TST-12 mm (k = 0.491) was higher than that observed for TST-10 mm (k = 0.466) and TST-5 mm (k = 0.356). Subgroup analyses across sex, residence, ethnicity, BMI, TB contact, and BCG history confirmed superior consistency for TST-12 mm. Individuals without BCG vaccination were less likely to show discordance between IGRA and TST-12 mm (OR = 0.32, 95% CI: 0.10–0.81). Conclusions: Using a 12 mm cutoff improves TST accuracy for students from high-burden areas. IGRA should be preferred for individuals with BCG vaccination history. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tuberculosis Diagnosis: Current, Ongoing and Future Approaches)
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11 pages, 1111 KB  
Article
A High Burden of Infectious Tuberculosis Cases Among Older Children and Young Adolescents of the Female Gender in Ethiopia
by Zewdu Dememew, Atakilt Deribew, Amtatachew Zegeye, Taye Janfa, Teshager Kegne, Yohannes Alemayehu, Asfawosen Gebreyohannes, Sidhartha Deka, Pedro Suarez, Daniel Datiko and Dan Schwarz
Trop. Med. Infect. Dis. 2025, 10(3), 79; https://doi.org/10.3390/tropicalmed10030079 - 17 Mar 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2018
Abstract
The study was conducted in all regions of Ethiopia, except Tigray. It describes types of Tuberculosis (TB) based on gender, age, region, HIV status, and geographic setting in Ethiopia. It is a cross-sectional study that utilized the Ministry of Health’s District Health Information [...] Read more.
The study was conducted in all regions of Ethiopia, except Tigray. It describes types of Tuberculosis (TB) based on gender, age, region, HIV status, and geographic setting in Ethiopia. It is a cross-sectional study that utilized the Ministry of Health’s District Health Information System-based reporting to analyze all types of TB from July 2022 to March 2024. In total, 290,450 TB cases were detected: 42.6% (123,871) were female, 9.4% (27,160) were children (under 15 years of age), and 14.5% (42,228) were adolescents (10–19 years of age). About 48% (20,185) of adolescent TB cases were bacteriologically confirmed, of which 47.5% were females. Compared to children <5 years, the male-to-female ratio is 26% higher among older children (5–9 years of age) (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 1.26, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.51–2.01)) and 53% higher among adolescents (AOR: 1.53, 95% CI 0.87–2.18). In short, about half of TB cases are infectious among older children and young adolescents of the female gender in Ethiopia. TB among these age categories may be addressed through the integration of TB services with reproductive health services and youth-friendly and pediatric clinics. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Tuberculosis Diagnosis: Current, Ongoing and Future Approaches)
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