News

XTEND: Xpert MTB/RIF for diagnosis of tuberculosis in South Africa – evaluating impact and cost-effectiveness in routine roll-out

The aim of this study is to evaluate the impact and cost-effectiveness of Xpert MTB/RIF in the investigation of TB and its impact on patient and programme outcomes and transmission at a population level, and thus inform policy on the scale up of Xpert MTB/RIF in low- and middle-income countries. The project runs from 2011 to 2014. The HEU is partnering with the Aurum Institute, the National Health Laboratory Services, National Department of Health, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and the World Health Organization.    It is funded by the Gates Foundation.

XPHACTOR: Xpert MTB/RIF for people attending HIV care: an interventional cohort study to guide rational implementation

This study will identify an evidence-based algorithm, which is feasible to implement within HIV clinics, to guide the utilisation of TB investigations. It also looks at how the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of Xpert MTB/RIF are influenced by how many and which patients are selected to undergo testing. The results will complement the XTEND study, and provide evidence to guide the rational use of Xpert MTB/RIF in national roll-out in South Africa and other settings where HIV and TB are both prevalent. The project runs from 2012 to 2014 and the HEU is partnering with the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, the Aurum Institute and the National Health Laboratory Services. The Gates Foundation is funding this project.