Fri Jul 04 05:49:02 UTC 2025: Okay, here’s a summary and a news article based on the provided text:
**Summary:**
A Puducherry-based Intermediate Reference Laboratory (IRL) has been recognized as the top-performing lab in India for its work on Tuberculosis (TB) testing, serving not only Puducherry but also Tamil Nadu and beyond. Puducherry has significantly increased TB testing rates and is actively working to curb community transmission through door-to-door screening, especially targeting vulnerable populations. The Union Territory uses advanced diagnostics and targeted approaches to identify and test presumptive TB cases, contributing to India’s overall efforts to eliminate TB. While India has shown progress in reducing TB incidence, the absolute number of cases remains high, necessitating ongoing efforts.
**News Article:**
**Puducherry Lab Leads India’s Fight Against TB with Increased Testing and Targeted Screening**
**PUDUCHERRY, July 4, 2025** – In a significant boost to India’s Tuberculosis (TB) elimination efforts, the Intermediate Reference Laboratory (IRL) based at the Government Hospital for Chest Diseases in Puducherry has been ranked number one nationally for its overall performance. The IRL, which serves not only Puducherry but also neighboring Tamil Nadu, has a capacity to conduct 1.2 lakh tests annually, according to S. Govindarajan, mission director of the Puducherry State Health Society (PSHS).
Puducherry has significantly increased TB testing rates, reaching 5,268 per lakh population in the first quarter of 2025, a 136% increase compared to 2015. While the Union Territory faces a relatively high TB death rate (attributed largely to patients from neighboring states), it has emerged as a leader in TB testing, increasing examinations of presumptive patients from 2,233 per lakh population in 2015 to 2,526 per lakh population in 2024.
The Union Territory is actively working to curb community transmission through door-to-door active case finding, with a special focus on vulnerable populations. In 2023, the State TB Cell, in collaboration with medical colleges, screened 5.2 lakh individuals for TB, using ultraportable hand-held chest X-ray machines for over 42,000 individuals. Those with abnormalities were further tested using advanced NAAT diagnostics.
“This targeted approach by Puducherry is a game changer in early diagnosis of TB and is boosting the UT’s chance at TB elimination goal,” said Dr. C. Venkatesh, State TB officer.
Recently, Puducherry mapped 3,74,281 vulnerable people and screened 3.8 lakh, covering 102% of the target, as part of the Central Government’s TB elimination program. Over 24,000 individuals at high risk of TB were screened, followed by over 15,000 presumptive patients tested using NAAT, the gold standard for TB testing.
According to experts, India has made progress in reducing the TB incidence rate, with a 17.7% decline from 2015 to 2023. The Union Health Ministry stated that India has strengthened its TB response through advanced diagnostics, innovative policies, private sector partnerships, and a patient-first approach. Despite this progress, the absolute number of TB cases remains high, underscoring the need for continued vigilance and proactive measures.
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