New Delhi, Jan 12 (NationPress) The Intermediate Reference Laboratory (IRL) located in Delhi’s Tuberculosis Centre has reached a significant achievement by obtaining its inaugural certification from the Central Tuberculosis Division (CTD) of the Government of India. This enables the lab to perform Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST) for two essential medications, as reported by an official on Monday.

Bedaquiline (BDQ) and Pretomanid (Pa) will be subjected to testing, both of which are critical drugs utilized worldwide in the treatment of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB), the official stated.

This certification signifies a substantial enhancement in Delhi's response to TB, improving the state's capability to diagnose and manage multidrug-resistant (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB), according to Pankaj Kumar Singh, the Health Minister of Delhi.

"This certification is a significant advantage for our TB elimination initiatives. By facilitating in-state DST for Bedaquiline and Pretomanid, we can guarantee quicker, more precise diagnosis and timely treatment for our patients. Delhi is steadfast in its commitment to the Prime Minister’s vision of a TB Mukt Bharat, and we will persist in enhancing our diagnostic and treatment systems with the utmost standards of care," he remarked.

Previously, numerous patient samples needing advanced DST had to be sent out of state, resulting in delays in diagnosis and treatment. With this new approval, patients in Delhi will now receive quicker results, initiate treatment sooner, and achieve better clinical outcomes, he added.

The IRL New Delhi TB Centre ranks among the most advanced laboratories in the nation, furnished with state-of-the-art technologies including a BSL-3 laboratory facility, MGIT 960, Line Probe Assay (LPA), Xpert XDR, Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS), Truenat, PathoDetect, and Real-Time PCR.

These top-tier diagnostic platforms guarantee thorough, accurate, and rapid TB detection, fully aligned with both national and global standards.

In 2025 alone, the laboratory processed more than 30,000 samples, underscoring its vital role in supporting TB diagnosis and treatment throughout the state.

Delhi has consistently displayed outstanding leadership in enhancing TB care under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP).

The state has registered the largest number of qualifying drug-resistant TB patients on the newly WHO-recommended BPaLM regimen (1,065 since December 2024)—a more efficient treatment noted for its higher success rates and significantly lower mortality.

At the same time, Delhi is intensifying its Active Case Finding (ACF) initiatives across high-risk and vulnerable communities. Backed by rapid molecular diagnostics, these efforts ensure the early identification of TB and drug resistance, prompt treatment initiation, and seamless care connections.