This Advisory Group has been established to help WHO address the prevailing and foreseeable challenges and contribute to ending the TB epidemic by addressing critical knowledge gaps and providing state-of-the-art scientific and technical advice on TB diagnostic methods and laboratory strengthening approaches to WHO.

The Advisory Group is composed of 24 members who have a range of technical knowledge, skills and experience in clinical laboratory sciences, TB diagnostics and global, regional or country-level laboratory strengthening, including experts from ministries of health, national TB programmes, public health, academic and research institutions, and other partners.

In its capacity as an advisory body to WHO, the Advisory Group shall have the following functions:

1. Advise WHO on priorities for TB diagnostic strategies that are identified by the WHO Secretariat  in response to the needs of Member States and in line with the work of the existing Strategic and Technical Advisory Group for Tuberculosis (STAG-TB); and
2. Provide rapid, independent evaluation and advice to WHO on scientific and technical aspects of TB diagnostic tools, technologies, methods and approaches which cannot be addressed within the scope of established WHO guideline development processes.