The first List of Essential Diagnostics was published in 2018, concentrating on HIV, malaria, tuberculosis, and hepatitis. The 2019 list has been expanded to include more non-communicable and communicable diseases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) List of Essential Diagnostics for infectious diseases focuses on additional infectious diseases prevalent in low- and middle-income countries such as cholera, and neglected diseases like leishmaniasis, schistosomiasis, dengue and zika. In addition, a new section for influenza testing was added for community health settings where no laboratories are available.
The update includes a new section specific to tests intended for screening of blood donations, in response to a WHO-wide strategy to make blood transfusions safer.
Source: WHO, 9 July 2019