PATH Diagnostics has developed a set of materials for organizing a quality assurance (QA) program to support use of rapid diagnostic tests for onchocerciasis and lymphatic filariasis (LF). A well-functioning QA program is necessary to achieve high-quality results required by surveillance programs tracking toward disease elimination. PATH has developed videos, user guides, and forms to instruct users on training, proficiency, QA and daily quality control (QC) panels for the Ov16 and Wb123 monoplex rapid tests and the Ov16/Wb123 biplex test.

Access the QA program materials here in English and in French; contact dxinfo@path.org to request training, proficiency, and QA panels, and positive and negative QC samples.

PATH has completed a series of diagnostic gap reports on four neglected tropical diseases requiring innovative and intensive disease management (known as IDM NTDs): human African trypanosomiasis, leprosy, visceral leishmaniasis, and Chagas disease [PDFs]. With the input of key stakeholders and partners, PATH assessed needs and landscaped potential solutions for improving availability, access, and adoption of diagnostic tools for IDM NTDs. All four reports can be found here.

PATH has created sample panels [PDF] that will support development of new diagnostics for a number of infectious diseases, including malaria, HIV, tetanus and tuberculosis. More than 18,000 individual samples have been created in common specimens such as serum, stool, plasma, and blood. These samples are available to diagnostic developers for use in test development evaluations after approval by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and completion of a material transfer agreement. For more information about accessing the sample panels, email dxinfo@path.org.

View the diagnostic sample panel fact sheet. [PDF]