UPSC Prelims Practice Questions — The evolving diagnostic landscape for tuberculosis

Q1. In the WHO's 2026 tuberculosis diagnostic recommendations, which one of the following best describes a 'near point-of-care nucleic acid amplification test (NPOC-NAAT)'?

  • A. A molecular test for the initial detection of TB deployable at peripheral levels of the health system at lower unit cost than other molecular instruments
  • B. A lateral-flow antigen test that detects lipoarabinomannan in urine for TB screening in HIV patients
  • C. A centralised cartridge-based PCR platform requiring a controlled laboratory environment to detect rifampicin resistance
  • D. An AI software package that reads digital chest X-rays to flag presumptive TB cases

Q2. As of the WHO's March 2026 announcement, how many products had been endorsed by WHO within the new NPOC-NAAT class of TB tests?

  • A. One
  • B. Three
  • C. Five
  • D. Ten

Q3. With reference to the WHO's 2026 TB diagnostic recommendations and India's TB programme, consider the following statements. Which of the above is/are correctly identified?

  1. Tongue swabs are recommended for adults and adolescents unable to produce sputum.
  2. NPOC-NAATs are intended for use at peripheral laboratories, primary health-care facilities and communities.
  3. India's 'Cough against TB' AI screening tool showed an additional TB yield of about 12-16% over conventional screening.
  4. Tongue swabs can be used only for TB detection without rifampicin resistance.
  • A. 1, 2 and 3
  • B. 1 and 4 only
  • C. 2 and 3 only
  • D. 1, 2 and 4

Q4. The WHO's 2026 recommendations on NPOC-NAATs, tongue swabs and sputum pooling were finalised on the basis of which one of the following?

  • A. A WHO Guideline Development Group meeting held in November 2025 at Geneva, updating Module 3 (Diagnosis) of the WHO consolidated TB guidelines
  • B. A resolution adopted exclusively by the World Health Assembly with no expert review
  • C. A directive issued solely by India's National TB Elimination Programme
  • D. A standalone decision of the Global Fund's Expert Review Panel that automatically becomes WHO policy
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