On World Tuberculosis Day the WHO issued guidance endorsing near point‑of‑care (nPOC) nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) as initial diagnostics for pulmonary TB in adults and adolescents, and recommended tongue swabs when sputum is unavailable. The agency added a new nPOC class and highlighted low‑cost portable systems such as PlusLife’s device and Cepheid’s Xpert Ultra for pooled testing scenarios. WHO framed the guidance as a priority for rapid diagnosis in resource‑constrained settings, noting potential cost and speed advantages of battery‑powered, isothermal NAAT systems.