The POC-SG is a subgroup of the STOP TB Working Group on New Diagnostics. It's role is to promote and facilitate the development of simple rapid tests for TB that can be used either within the clinic, at bedside or out in the community. Such tests do not require laboratory facilities and should provide a result on the spot, preferably within a few minutes.
The sub group was set up in November 2007 following a structural re-organisation of the STOP TB Working Group on New Diagnostics. The group is open to all those who wish to participate. All participation is on a voluntary basis. Ruth McNerney (London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine) and Catharina Boehme (FIND) were requested to lead the group.
The STOP TB Partnership is a global network of international organisations, countries, donors from the public and private sectors, governmental and nongovernmental organisations that have expressed an interest in working together to achieve a world free of tuberculosis.
It's mission is to
Ensure that every TB patient has access to effective diagnosis, treatment and cure.
Stop transmission of TB
Reduce the inequitable social and economic toll of TB
Develop and implement new preventative, diagnostic and therapeutic tools and strategies to stop TB.
The Working Group on New Diagnostics is one of eight WG working under the umbrella of the STOP TB Parternship. The WGNG was restructured in November 2007. A core goup has been established, with eight sub groups. Each sub group has two joint co-ordinators who will develop work plans and targets. There are five SG with primary responsibility for advancing technology. The remaining three provide necessary information around specific issues that should guide tool development and implementation.
The aims of the WGND are to develop and introduce cost effective and appropriate new diagnostic tools that will contribute towards control of TB and improve the quality of patient care. The three priorities are (i) to improve case detection, (ii) rapidly identify drug resistance (iii) identify latent infection and risk of progression to active disease.