ABL Diagnostics adds targeted and whole-genome TB sequencing tools

ABL Diagnostics expanded its tuberculosis portfolio with new targeted and whole-genome sequencing options for drug resistance testing, adding more flexibility for clinical labs, reference centers and public health institutions. The move comes as WHO-backed genomic testing gains traction for faster detection of resistant TB and broader surveillance.

Why it matters: - Tuberculosis drug resistance is becoming harder to track with single-purpose tests. - ABL Diagnostics now offers a step-up path from targeted resistance testing to full Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome analysis. - The new lineup is built around one shared bioinformatics environment, which can simplify workflow standardization across labs.

What happened: - ABL Diagnostics on July 17, 2026 announced an expanded DeepChek and HybridChek tuberculosis portfolio. - The portfolio is designed for routine clinical laboratories, national reference centers and public health institutions. - The company said laboratories can choose the sequencing strategy that fits their clinical goals, throughput needs and NGS platform. - The portfolio is compatible with major sequencing systems including Illumina, MGI, Oxford Nanopore Technologies, Ion Torrent, PacBio, Element Biosciences, Salus and GeneMind.

The details: - DeepChek 13-Plex is a CE-IVD validated multiplex PCR assay for resistance to the most clinically relevant first-line, second-line and novel anti-tuberculosis drugs. - DeepChek 13-Plex can be run directly from sputum specimens or positive cultures. - DeepChek 19-Plex is a RUO targeted assay with broader genomic coverage. - DeepChek 19-Plex adds resistance markers recommended by the latest WHO guidance and is aimed at more complete characterization of MDR, pre-XDR and XDR tuberculosis. - HybridChek-TB is a RUO hybrid capture-based whole genome sequencing solution for complete genomic characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. - HybridChek-TB supports epidemiological surveillance, lineage determination, transmission analysis and discovery of emerging resistance mechanisms. - BacterioChek-TB is a CE-IVD bioinformatics platform for standardized analysis, automated resistance prediction and reporting across the tuberculosis portfolio. - The combined workflow spans rapid targeted resistance testing through comprehensive whole-genome analysis. - Dr. Sofiane Mohamed, head of research and development at ABL Diagnostics, said the new assays and analysis platform give laboratories more flexibility without compromising analytical performance or future scalability.

Between the lines: - The release is a clear push from targeted molecular testing toward broader sequencing-based tuberculosis genomics. - ABL Diagnostics is positioning its portfolio around a single ecosystem rather than separate products that require different analysis tools. - WHO estimates tuberculosis remains the deadliest infectious disease from a single pathogen, with 10.8 million cases and 1.25 million deaths in 2024. - WHO also estimated about 410,000 MDR/RR-TB cases in 2024, but only a fraction received comprehensive drug susceptibility testing and appropriate treatment. - Independent market analyses cited by ABL Diagnostics put the global TB diagnostics market at roughly $2.5 billion to $3.0 billion in 2025, with molecular diagnostics growing fastest.

What's next: - ABL Diagnostics expects the portfolio to help laboratories respond to current resistance testing needs and future guideline changes. - The company is betting that broader adoption of sequencing and precision medicine will keep driving demand for TB molecular diagnostics. - Laboratories using the platform can shift from targeted assays to whole-genome sequencing without changing the analysis environment.

The bottom line: - ABL Diagnostics is expanding from TB resistance testing into a more complete sequencing stack, aiming to serve labs that want both speed and genomic depth.