Massive global study aims to slash TB deaths with smarter testing
NCT ID NCT04923958
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study aims to find faster, simpler, and cheaper ways to diagnose tuberculosis (TB), a disease that kills over a million people each year. Researchers will test new diagnostic tools on over 26,000 adults in 10 countries who have a cough lasting two weeks or more, or who have risk factors like HIV or close contact with TB. The goal is to improve detection so that more people get treated sooner.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 26,436 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Apr 2021
- Expected to finish
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May 2031
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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12 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Novel TB triage and diagnostic tests: We will include non-hospitalized adults (age ≥ 12 years) with either 1) cough ≥2 weeks' duration, a commonly accepted criterion for identifying people with presumed pulmonary TB (to facilitate standardization across sites and comparison of test performance across sub-groups or 2) risk factors for which TB screening is recommended (HIV infection, self-reported close contact, history of mining work). People with risk factors will be included if they screen positive for TB based on WHO-recommended screening tools as specified below: Positive TB screening definitions by risk factor: 1. PLHIV (Risk Factor), CRP \>5 mg/dL OR abnormal CXR (Positive TB screening definition) 2. Self-reported Close Contact (Risk Factor), abnormal CXR (Positive TB screening definition) 3. History of mining work (Risk Factor), abnormal CXR (Positive TB screening definition) We will exclude people who: 1. completed latent or active TB treatment within the past 12 months (to increase TB prevalence and reduce false-positive results, respectively); 2. have taken any medication with anti-mycobacterial activity (including fluoroquinolones) for any reason, within 2 weeks of study entry (to reduce false-negatives); 3. reside \>20km from the study site or are unwilling to return for follow-up visits; or 4. are unwilling to provide informed consent Novel TB rDST assays: We will include adults (age ≥12 years) who are positive for TB and RIF resistance according to routine diagnostic testing (based typically on Xpert MTB/RIF, Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra, or Hain MTBDRplus). We will exclude people who: 1. have negative or contaminated results on all baseline (i.e., enrollment) sputum cultures 2. are unable to provide at least two sputum specimens of 3 mL each within one day of enrollment 3. are unable or unwilling to provide informed consent Assessment of the usability of novel TB tests: We will include health workers at each clinical site who are 1) aged ≥18 years and 2) involved in routine TB testing (collecting specimens for or performing TB tests). We will exclude staff who are unwilling to provide informed consent.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
16 sites in 8 countries. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Brooklyn Chest Hospital
RECRUITINGCape Town, South Africa
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Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia
RECRUITINGLusaka, Zambia
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Chitoor (Christian Medical College satellite campus)
RECRUITINGVellore, India
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Christian Medical College CMC Pulmonary Outpatient Department
RECRUITINGVellore, India
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De La Salle Medical and Health Sciences Institute
RECRUITINGDasmariñas, Philippines
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Hanoi Lung Hospital, Outpatient departments
RECRUITINGHanoi, Vietnam
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Khayelitsha District Health Center
RECRUITINGCape Town, South Africa
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Kisenyi Health Center
RECRUITINGKampala, Uganda
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Kraaifontein Community Health Clinic
RECRUITINGCape Town, South Africa
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Mulago Outpatient Department
RECRUITINGKampala, Uganda
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National Center for Tuberculosis and Lung Diseases
RECRUITINGTbilisi, Georgia
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National Lung Hospital, Outpatient departments
RECRUITINGHanoi, Vietnam
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Primary care clinics (Shalom/LCC, CHAD)
RECRUITINGVellore, India
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Scottsdene primary care clinic
RECRUITINGCape Town, South Africa
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Wallacedene primary care clinic
RECRUITINGCape Town, South Africa
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Zankli Research Center
RECRUITINGAbuja, Nigeria
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Effects of adjunct Omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids in pulmonary tuberculosis patients: an early bactericidal activity and inflammatory activity trial
- A randomized clinical trial of early empiric Anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis therapy for sepsis in Sub-Saharan africa
- A single swab, two diseases: rapid test takes on TB and COVID-19
- Can newer tests match the gold standard for detecting Drug-Resistant TB?
- Can HIV status change TB treatment success? a zambian study investigates
- Can a 4-Drug combo cut TB treatment time in half?