Tuberculosis UK-wide diagnostics initiative

The Health Protection Agency, Royal College of Pathologists and Association of Clinical Pathologists, in association with Keele University, Health Protection Scotland and Public Health Wales are launching a UK-wide project looking at tuberculosis diagnostic services in the UK. The aim of this work is to describe and audit the current diagnostic service in the UK, to evaluate new technologies, and to use this information to support both laboratories and commissioners.

This is a time of rapid change in TB diagnostics. A number of molecular assays have become available, for which the evidence base is quickly expanding. Fragmentation in pathology service provision is altering the laboratory infrastructure. At a time when tuberculosis continues to increase in the UK, it is essential to ensure that we continue to provide a high quality and technically advanced diagnostic service.

This project will show the areas in which our organisations can support and help to develop diagnostic capacity and techniques nationally. We will provide a detailed audit report, a report on adoption of molecular diagnostics which will allow laboratories to evaluate and improve their service, and a description of TB diagnostic service delivery which can be used to inform commissioning at a local and national level.

The project will launch on 8th November 2011, when a medical microbiologist at every clinical microbiology laboratory in England, Scotland and Wales will be contacted by email with a request for participation. If you do not receive t his or have further enquiries about the project, please contact the study team at d.holland@mema.keele.ac.uk
 

Last reviewed: 3 November 2011