Ensuring global access to affordable diagnostics for tuberculosis: A Canadian perspective

Before patients can be effectively treated, they need to be diagnosed. The GeneXpert is an effective diagnostic tool for diseases like drug-resistant tuberculosis, HIV and hepatitis that is also suitable for low-resource environments. Unfortunately, high prices for the cartridges used for each test mean it does not reach all who could benefit. This session will explain the “Time for $5” campaign calling on GeneXpert manufacturers Cepheid and Danaher to lower the price of cartridges; discuss the importance of diagnostics in settings from Canada to Lesotho; and highlight Canada’s pledges, and shortfalls, supporting the global push to end TB.