01892nas a2200241   4500000000100000008004100001260003700042653005700079653002400136653003000160100001600190700001500206700001900221700001300240700001300253700001700266245007300283856009900356300001300455490000700468520116100475022001401636       2021                            d  bPublic Library of Science (PLoS)10aPublic Health, Environmental and Occupational Health10aInfectious Diseases10aPoint-of-care diagnostics1 aBharadwaj M1 aBengtson M1 aGolverdingen M1 aWaling L1 aDekker C1 aNdung’u JM00aDiagnosing point-of-care diagnostics for neglected tropical diseases  uhttps://journals.plos.org/plosntds/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pntd.0009405&type=printable  ae00094050 v153 a<jats:p>Inadequate and nonintegrated diagnostics are the Achilles’ heel of global efforts to monitor, control, and eradicate neglected tropical diseases (NTDs). While treatment is often available, NTDs are endemic among marginalized populations, due to the unavailability or inadequacy of diagnostic tests that cause empirical misdiagnoses. The need of the hour is early diagnosis at the point-of-care (PoC) of NTD patients. Here, we review the status quo of PoC diagnostic tests and practices for all of the 24 NTDs identified in the World Health Organization’s (WHO) 2021–2030 roadmap, based on their different diagnostic requirements. We discuss the capabilities and shortcomings of current diagnostic tests, identify diagnostic needs, and formulate prerequisites of relevant PoC tests. Next to technical requirements, we stress the importance of availability and awareness programs for establishing PoC tests that fit endemic resource-limited settings. Better understanding of NTD diagnostics will pave the path for setting realistic goals for healthcare in areas with minimal resources, thereby alleviating the global healthcare burden.</jats:p>  a1935-2735