Maharashtra’s Health Department Plans To Expand NAAT Testing For Faster TB Diagnosis In Rural Areas

Mumbai, August 27, 2026: Maharashtra's Health Department plans to broaden the use of Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT) for quicker and more precise tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis, particularly in rural regions where traditional microscopy is predominantly utilized. According to Health Department statistics, 39.21 lakh TB tests were carried out across Maharashtra between December 2024 and August 4, 2026, with 21.48 lakh, or 55 percent, utilizing NAAT, a molecular diagnostic method that detects TB bacteria and, in specific tests, can also identify drug resistance.

NAAT is a contemporary laboratory test that detects TB bacteria by identifying their genetic material (DNA) in a patient's sample, typically sputum. The disparity in modern and traditional testing is more evident in rural Maharashtra. Of the 28 lakh tests conducted in rural areas, just 47 percent (13.15 lakh) were NAAT tests, while 14.84 lakh tests were performed using conventional microscopy.

Certain districts have notably lower access to NAAT. Solapur, Washim, and Beed each had less than 30 percent of their TB tests conducted using the advanced method, indicating that over 70 percent of patients in these regions still depend on conventional microscopy. Conversely, approximately 88 percent of TB tests in Mumbai were conducted using NAAT, illustrating a substantial difference in access to modern diagnostic facilities between urban and rural areas.

NAAT is essential for early diagnosis and identifying drug-resistant TB, allowing doctors to initiate appropriate treatment sooner, especially in cases of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). NAAT's expansion is crucial for early diagnosis and identifying drug-resistant TB, facilitating earlier treatment initiation, particularly in multidrug-resistant TB cases.

The official emphasized that expanding testing alone is insufficient; patients must also have access to accurate and modern diagnostic technology. Accelerating TB elimination necessitates early and accurate diagnosis, particularly in densely populated areas where transmission risk is higher. NAAT expansion in rural districts is vital to bridge the technological gap in TB diagnosis and bolster Maharashtra's efforts toward TB elimination.