Early health technology assessment of tongue swab for non-sputum based pulmonary tuberculosis diagnosis in Thailand

Background Sputum-based diagnostic methods for pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) are challenging for patients who cannot produce sputum. Non-sputum-based approaches, such as tongue swab (TS), can address this gap. This study conducts an early Health Technology Assessment (HTA) of TS for PTB diagnosis in Thailand. Methods We conducted a landscape review, stakeholder consultation, early health economic modeling, and established a Target Product Profile (TPP). The landscape review included a comprehensive literature analysis to identify gaps and unmet needs in PTB diagnosis in Thailand. Stakeholder consultations gathered insights from TB experts to validate the information. An early health economic model evaluated the cost-effectiveness of two innovative strategies: tongue swab with Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification (LAMP) and tongue swab with real-time polymerase chain reaction (RTPCR). The TPP outlines three target levels to guide innovators in designing effective clinical studies. Findings The landscape review identified the clinical workflow and reimbursement process of all PTB diagnostic tests in Thailand. The gap of tuberculosis management was around diagnosis and treatment. Stakeholders indicated that PTB detection remains inefficient due to issues such as low-test accuracy, costs, delays, drug-resistance testing, and the need for specialized laboratory techniques and personnel. TS RTPCR is the best-performing strategy, outperforming other strategies for the targeted population from the modelling analysis. Interpretation TS may serve as a viable alternative worth further exploration and development. An ongoing collaboration between early HTA researchers and innovators has identified valuable information for innovation development.