India, March 31 -- image credit- freepik

The World Health Organization (WHO) is urging countries to accelerate action to end tuberculosis (TB) and expand access to lifesaving services by using new innovations such as  diagnostic tests that can be used near the point-of-care and tongue swabs that can help detect the disease faster reaching more people.

The new guidelines on tests for TB that can be used near the point-of-care, issued by WHO, mark another step towards faster detection and treatment of one of the world's deadliest infectious diseases. These portable, simple-to-use tests bring TB diagnosis closer to where people routinely seek care.

Available at less than half the cost of many existing molecular diagnostics,...