Strategic Approach for the Strengthening of Laboratory Services for Tuberculosis Control

This manual outlines a global strategy for the development and strengthening of TB laboratory networks. The strategy recognizes the need to upgrade existing laboratory services and to strengthen/build capacity to perform culture and drug susceptibility testing (DST) in areas experiencing a high burden of acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear-negative TB associated with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and to support DOTS-Plus projects.