How qPCR complements the WHO roadmap (2021-2030) for soil-transmitted helminths.

Complementing the launch of the World Health Organization (WHO) roadmap (2021-2030) we explore key elements needing attention before recruitment of qPCR as the main diagnostics tool to confirm reduction or elimination of soil-transmitted helminth (STH) transmission in both control and elimination programmes. Given the performance limitations of conventional methods, a proposed harmonised qPCR will provide a diagnostic tool, with the sensitivity and specificity required to monitor low-intensity infections, following mass drug administration (MDA). Technical and logistical challenges associated with introducing qPCR as a stand-alone tool are highlighted, and a decision-making scheme on how qPCR can support surveillance, resistance detection, and elimination is presented. An accurate point-of-care (POC) diagnostic test needs to be developed to support STH control in the field, and STH biorepositories need to be established and maintained to ensure that reference materials are available for research and validation.

Crown Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Declaration of interests R.M.A. was a non-executive director of GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) for 10 years up to May 2018 and is currently chairman of Oriole Global Health Limited (OGH). GSK and OGH played no role in the contents or production of this review. M.P. has been invited to sit at the World Health Organisation Diagnostics Technical Advisory Group (WHO DTAG) for Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) since March 2021. The WHO played no role in producing the contents of this opinion piece. All other authors declare no conflict of interest.