Pluslife Near Point-of-Care TB Test Added to the Stop TB Partnership’s Global Drug Facility (GDF) Diagnostics Portfolio

Pluslife’s near point-of-care (near-POC) TB test has been added to the Stop TB Partnership’s Global Drug Facility (GDF) diagnostics portfolio, enabling countries to procure the solution through an established global health procurement channel.

In parallel, TB REACH-supported partners have already started piloting the use of the Pluslife MiniDock system in Cameroon, Bangladesh, Nigeria, and Vietnam, including community-based events delivering testing at point-of-care. Looking ahead, TB REACH Wave 11 partners will conduct 14 implementation research studies in eleven countries to guide TB programs involved in the Global Fund’s Early Adopter Program and accelerate programmatic uptake of near-POC tests.

Near-POC solutions matter because they help bring rapid molecular sputum testing closer to frontline services at a lower cost, expanding access beyond higher-level facilities. They also create a practical pathway for people who cannot produce sputum. Tongue swabs, where applicable, can support clinicians in obtaining accurate, rapid results with a more accessible sample type.

Designed for decentralized use, the Pluslife TB test combines portable instrumentation with reagents that can be stored at temperatures up to 40°C. The test provides results in less than 30 minutes and can be run using tongue swabs or swabbed sputum. The Pluslife TB test is eligible for procurement via GDF by all countries, irrespective of the source of funding.

For more information, please visit: https://www.stoptb.org/sites/default/files/documents/GDF_Diagnostics_and_MD_Catalog.pdf

This milestone reflects Pluslife’s commitment to making high-quality diagnostics more practical and more reachable in real-world care. We look forward to supporting TB programs and implementation partners as evidence continues to grow and decentralized testing expands, helping more communities access timely answers and strengthening the path toward ending TB.