Dr Richard Mwape presents breakthrough TB findings at Union Conference in Copenhagen

Dr Richard Mwape, a PhD fellow at Zambart, presented findings from a pragmatic cluster randomized trial on the diagnosis performance of novel TB infection tests (Cy-Tb and TB-Feron FIA) for the initiation of TB preventive treatment (TPT) in Zambia at the Union Conference in Copenhagen in November 2025.

His study explored how well these tests perform compared to the current gold standard and whether they can improve decisions about who should receive preventive TB treatment (TPT). The project, funded by the Stop TB Partnership under TB REACH wave 10, found that both Cy‑Tb and TB‑Feron FIA showed high concordance with the established QuantiFERON‑TB Gold Plus (QFT‑Plus). In other words, the new tests closely matched the reference standard, helping to ensure that people who truly needed preventive treatment were correctly identified, while those who did not were spared unnecessary medication.

These findings are significant for countries with a high TB burden, where resources are limited and treatment decisions must be precise. Mwape’s work demonstrates how improved diagnostic tools can reduce inappropriate treatment, optimize resource use, and strengthen TB prevention strategies