Neftaly: Strengthening Laboratory Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in the Region of the Americas
At Neftaly (South African Youth Project), we are committed to advancing global health equity by sharing our expertise and proven models to strengthen public health systems across regions. In support of the End TB Strategy and aligned with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) regional goals, Neftaly is working to strengthen laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in the Region of the Americas.
Accurate, timely, and accessible TB diagnosis is essential to breaking the chain of transmission, especially in high-burden, low-resource, and underserved populations, including indigenous communities, migrants, urban poor, and people living with HIV.
Program Goal
To enhance the capacity and efficiency of laboratory networks across the Americas to provide quality-assured, rapid, and accessible TB diagnostic services, including drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) detection.
Key Objectives
- Strengthen national and subnational TB laboratory networks in alignment with WHO and PAHO standards.
- Improve access to rapid molecular diagnostics and ensure equitable distribution of diagnostic tools.
- Build the technical and operational capacity of laboratory personnel.
- Promote integration of laboratory data into surveillance systems and TB program decision-making.
Core Intervention Areas
1. Expansion of Rapid and Advanced Diagnostic Tools
- Support the scale-up of GeneXpert MTB/RIF, Truenat, and Line Probe Assays (LPA) for faster TB and DR-TB detection.
- Improve access to sputum transport networks to expand coverage to remote and underserved areas.
- Support introduction and use of Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) in reference laboratories for surveillance of resistance patterns.
2. Capacity Building and Training
- Conduct regional and national training workshops for lab technicians, supervisors, and program managers.
- Develop and disseminate standard operating procedures (SOPs) for all TB diagnostic methods.
- Facilitate south-south collaboration and technical exchanges, leveraging Neftaly’s experience in Africa to support labs in the Americas.
3. Quality Assurance and Accreditation
- Implement and monitor external quality assessment (EQA) programs across diagnostic sites.
- Support labs in achieving accreditation under ISO 15189 and regional standards.
- Strengthen internal quality control systems to ensure reliable, reproducible results.
4. Integration with National TB Programs
- Ensure strong linkages between laboratory systems and TB care pathways, including case notification and treatment initiation.
- Promote use of electronic laboratory information systems (LIS) integrated with national TB surveillance platforms.
- Provide technical support for data analysis and visualization to inform decision-making and resource allocation.
Our Impact Potential
Neftaly’s collaborative approach is tailored to strengthen existing national efforts while addressing systemic gaps. With strategic partnerships and local engagement, our interventions will:
- Improve case detection rates, including MDR-TB and TB-HIV co-infections.
- Reduce diagnostic delays, especially in remote and vulnerable populations.
- Build sustainable regional capacity for TB lab services and surveillance.
Why It Matters
Despite progress, TB remains a major public health concern in parts of the Americas — particularly where diagnostic capacity is limited. Without accurate and early diagnosis, patients go untreated, transmission continues, and drug resistance grows.