Evaluating Next Generation LAM Assays and Molecular Diagnostics (POC and Near POC) for the Diagnosis of TB Among People With Presumptive TB: a Prospective Multicentre Diagnostic Accuracy Study
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- This is an observational study: the protocol does not assign a study treatment.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Tuberculosis. Basic parameters: from 18 years · All.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
Testing New Diagnostic Technology Classes for TB (DriveDx4TB)
Overview
This prospective multicentre study is planned to evaluate the next generation LAM assays and molecular diagnostics (POC and near POC) among people with presumptive Tuberculosis. The DriveDx4TB study aims to generate evidence needed to accelerate the introduction of three new classes of TB diagnostics, complemented by alternative sampling for use at primary healthcare and community settings. To this end, the study will leverage the accelerated innovation spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the rapid development of swab-based sampling and molecular diagnostic (MDx) platforms.
Detailed description
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major global health problem owing to high rates of morbidity and mortality; the 2022 Global TB Report estimates that approximately 10.6 million individuals fell ill with TB in 2021, however on account of existing programme inefficiencies and compounded by the effects of COVID-19, 4.1 million people with TB went undiagnosed. Access to diagnostics remains a significant barrier to TB care, further exacerbated by COVID-19; the consequence of delayed diagnoses and subsequent treatment has resulted in increased TB deaths (1.4M deaths in 2021 - levels last seen in 2017). In addition, a reliance on sputum-based testing has limited case detection efforts, particularly among individuals with paucibacillary disease (e.g., people living with HIV \[PLHIV\] and children) and those investigated earlier in their TB disease progression, where sputum production is inherently difficult. New fit-for-purpose diagnostics are thus urgently needed to recover lost ground and to bring testing closer to patients and address current sampling limitations.
The DriveDx4TB project aims to generate evidence needed to accelerate the introduction of three new classes of TB diagnostics, complemented by alternative sampling for use at primary healthcare and community settings. To this end, the study will leverage the accelerated innovation spurred by the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly the rapid development of swab-based sampling and molecular diagnostic (MDx) platforms.
The project will independently evaluate three technology classes:
1. 3rd Generation urine LAM 2. Point-of-care (POC) MDx using tongue swabs 3. Near POC MDx using tongue swabs or sputum
The data gathered from this study will support in-country decision-making for the uptake of new TB diagnostics, and will form part of evidence reviewed by the WHO for policy development or prequalification (PQ) processes.
Primary outcome measures
- 1.1 [Time frame: February 2024 to August 2025]
- 1.2 [Time frame: February 2024 to August 2025]
- 1.3 [Time frame: February 2024 to August 2025]
Secondary outcome measures (3)
- 2.1 [Time frame: February 2024 to August 2025]
- 2.2 [Time frame: February 2024 to August 2025]
- 2.3 [Time frame: February 2024 to August 2025]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Adult (≥18 years), with presumptive pulmonary TB i.e., self-reporting cough ≥2 weeks and ≥1 other symptom typical of pulmonary TB\*
- Willing to provide written informed consent
- Willing to provide sputum, and other samples (tongue swabs, urine)
- Willingness to have a telephonic follow-up call 2-3 months post-enrolment
- Documented HIV status and CD4 count within last 6 months, or if unavailable, then willing to undergo testing
- fever, night sweats or unintended weight-loss
Exclusion criteria
- Participants currently on anti-TB treatment \*
- Any anti-TB treatment or antibiotics not specifically used for TB treatment, but which have anti-TB activity, e.g., fluoroquinolones given for respiratory tract infection within 60 days prior to enrolment
- Any tuberculosis preventive therapy (TPT) within 6 months prior to enrolment
- Participants who have conditions or circumstances that preclude their participation, based on the judgement of the site investigator
- Unable to produce at least 3ml of sputum \* Participants starting anti-TB treatment at the time of enrolment will not be excluded from the study provided that all study specimens are collected before starting the 3rd dose of treatment.
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Observational model
- Other
Study locations
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Identifiers
NCT: NCT06019052 · TB051