Empowering global health solutions

TB resurged as the leading cause of infectious disease deaths in 2023, surpassing COVID-19.¹ It is estimated that one quarter of the world’s population has been infected with TB, with the greatest burden (80%) of cases and deaths falling on low and middle-income countries.² A total of 10.8 million people fell ill, and 1.25 million people died from TB worldwide in 2023.² Access to tools to prevent, detect, and treat TB continues to be a challenge.

Danaher-operated Cepheid's novel rapid molecular tests like Xpert® MTB/RIF were a significant TB diagnostic innovation when first introduced and were quickly endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as recommended first-line diagnostic tests for patients with signs and symptoms of TB.³ According to Reuters,⁴ WHO said in a statement it was endorsing the test because it could "revolutionize" TB care and control by accurately diagnosing patients in about 100 minutes, compared to current tests that can take up to three months to provide results.

Further innovations in the fight against TB included Cepheid’s updated Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra test and Xpert MTB/XDR designed to address the increasing problem of extensively drug-resistant (XDR) TB, the most serious form of TB.

Danaher partners with the global community to end TB by 2030

The opportunity to end TB by 2030 stands before the global community. Along with many other global health care organizations (pharmaceutical companies, NGOs, and others), Cepheid and Danaher’s innovations and outreach play a role in the WHO's holistic approach in the Strategy to End TB. Together, meaningful strides have been made against the disease. 

Discover some of the incredible stories on Cepheid’s Insight Hub that demonstrate how our company is making a difference to End TB in the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Pakistan, Vietnam, South Africa, and Uganda. 

1. Tuberculosis resurges as top infectious disease killer. Accessed June 27, 2025. https://www.who.int/news/item/29-10-2024-tuberculosis-resurges-as-top-infectious-disease-killer 
2. WHO. Tuberculosis Fact Sheet. 14 March 2025. Accessed June 2025. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/tuberculosis#Overview
3. WHO. WHO consolidated guidelines on tuberculosis, Module 3: Diagnosis, Rapid diagnostics for tuberculosis detection. 2021. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789240029415
4. Reuters.com. Accessed June 27, 2025. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-tuberculosis-test/who-says-cepheid-rapid-test-will-transform-tb-care-idUSTRE6B71RF20101208/