E-DRUG: Reality check! MSF symposium on TB diagnostics at IUATLD Conference
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Ensuring the pertinence of TB diagnostic tools for the peripheral level
Médecins Sans Frontières 'Satellite'
at IUATLD Conference, Palais des Congres, PARIS
Sunday 19th October 2008, 4:30 â€" 6:30 pm, Room 362/363
How can we ensure that TB diagnostic tools, that answer to the medical
needs and take into account logistic constraints existing at the peripheral
level, are developed and implemented?
This meeting will explore Médecins Sans Frontières - and others - experience
in the implementation of recent tuberculosis diagnostic techniques
including thin layer agar, MGIT, and molecular techniques. It further aims
to stimulate discussion on initiatives, including research consortia or a
prize fund, that could boost the development of TB diagnostic tools
relevant for peripheral, resource-poor settings.
Meeting chaired by Dr. Michael Rich, Partners in Health, Rwanda
and Dr. Tido von Schoen-Angerer, MSF Access Campaign
Part 1: From pipeline to implementation: recent TB diagnostic tools
Liquid culture: Practical challenges with MGIT
Dr. Anandi Martin, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp
MGIT, a rapid liquid culture method, allows for considerable reduction in
diagnostic times. But is it too high-tech for district and peripheral
levels? What are the practical challenges of using MGIT under routine
conditions?
Implementation of Thin Layer Agar
Dr. Helena Huerga, MSF, Kenya
Non-commercial culture techniques such as thin layer agar have the
potential to be set up at district level. When implementing TLA in rural
Kenya, MSF found a substantial impact on case detection of patients, which
would have been missed through clinical algorithms. This presentation will
discuss results, challenges and lessons learnt from the implementation.
Molecular methods: What impact will they have for resource-poor settings?
Dr. Helen Cox, MSF, South Africa
Line probe assays that give drug-resistance results in less than two days
have recently attracted both publicity and funding. But what challenges do
they hold for laboratories and care providers when used under routine
conditions? Are molecular techniques the solution to detect DR-TB? This
presentation will consider the impact of molecular techniques on TB care in
South Africa, and discuss their feasibility for remote settings.
Questions and discussion
Part 2: Initiatives to accelerate development of point-of-care diagnostics
Tackling the scientific questions
Mark Harrington, Treatment Action Group
New approaches and actors are needed to accelerate the discovery of
antigens, biomarkers and the development of new diagnostic tools. What new
paths should the scientific and donor communities explore? This
presentation will provide the introduction to a research
consortium-initiative, aiming to develop a point-of-care rapid test.
No money, no test: Bridging the financial gap
Pierre Chirac, MSF Access Campaign
Innovative and alternative financing mechanisms are required to stimulate
needs-driven health research. Prize funds have been touted for the
development of TB diagnostics. They are now part of the WHO Global Strategy
for Public Health, Innovation and Intellectual Property. This presentation
will introduce the prize fund proposal and explore what still needs to be
done in order to translate the idea into reality.
Questions and discussion
For further information, please contact
James Arkinstall, MSF +33 1 40 21 28 37
james.arkinstall@msf.org
www.msfaccess.org