Forbes | TB Testing Enters a New Era of Access to Innovation

7 September 2026

Opinion piece by Madhukar Pai

A new era in TB diagnostics has begun with the introduction of a highly affordable molecular test, priced at just $2.60. This breakthrough, the Pluslife MiniDock Ultra, allows for rapid testing in primary care settings using sputum or tongue swabs, addressing the 2.4 million undiagnosed TB cases annually. The World Health Organization endorsed this near point-of-care technology in February 2026. Despite international aid cuts, over 15 nations are already rolling out the test. TB implementors from Zimbabwe and South Africa, as well as NGO leaders in Nigeria and Pakistan, laud the reduced cost for improving access in underserved communities. Advocates now urge a complete shift from smear microscopy to these more sensitive and accessible molecular tests.

Read the full opinion piece here.

Source: Forbes