Diagnostics have long been considered key tools in the response to antimicrobial resistance (AMR). From a blood test that detects signs of infection to a laboratory test that identifies bacteria and determines which antibiotics can treat them, diagnostics provide essential information for making informed decisions. They help detect infections, identify the pathogens responsible, uncover resistance, and guide the choice of treatment. Beyond individual patients, diagnostic data can also strengthen AMR surveillance across humans, animals and the environment.
AMR diagnostics generally fall into four main categories:
Nearly half of the world’s population has little or no access to diagnostic testing. Frontline clinics are particularly affected, but larger health facilities also face gaps—especially when diagnosing serious infections such as sepsis and pneumonia. High costs, weak infrastructure, unreliable supply chains and limited health coverage can all prevent people from getting the right test at the right time.
Despite their importance, diagnostics remain underfunded and underused. The Global AMR R&D Hub’s Dynamic Dashboard shows that only around 8% of AMR research and development funding across human, animal and environmental health goes towards diagnostics.
Without timely and reliable test results, health workers may have to choose antibiotics based on symptoms alone. This can delay the right treatment, lead to unnecessary antibiotic use and make drug-resistant infections harder to track. Expanding access to existing tests—and investing in better ones—is essential for improving patient care and tackling antimicrobial resistance.
European SME platform addressing development, regulatory, adoption and reimbursement barriers for AMR diagnostics.
Collaborations & Networks – Market, access & economic analysis
Combating Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria Biopharmaceutical Accelerator (CARB-X) is a global non-profit partnership accelerating antibacterial products to address drug-resistant bacteria.
Funder
US CDC-led global laboratory and response network for detecting and responding to AMR threats.
Market, Access & economic analysis
Global platform accelerating equitable access to and effective use of AMR diagnostics by coordinating work on innovation, market access, policy, regulation, country capacity and implementation.
Collaborations & Networks
FIND’s AMR Test Directory includes a pipeline of tests in development and commercialised tests of relevance in the context of antimicrobial use
Directory
Multidisciplinary AMR initiative spanning research, translation, implementation, education and global convening; its diagnostics work includes collaborative research, support for diagnostic use and stewardship, DxAMR, and the Fleming Fund fellowship alumni network.
Capacity Building
One page factsheet summarising key facts and figures from the Hub’s Dynamic Dashboard on investment into AMR Diagnostic research and development from public and philanthropic funders. Data shown in the factsheet covers the time period from the 1st of January 2017 to the 4th December 2025.
Investment Data
2021 report that estimating global patient needs and market potential for priority health technologies addressing AMR, including diagnostics.
Market, access & economic analysis
INCATE is an early-stage funding vehicle supporting innovation vs. drug-resistant bacterial infections. The fund provides advice, community, and non-dilutive funding (€10k in Stage I and up to €250k in Stage II) to support early-stage ventures in creating the evidence and building the team needed to get next-level funding.
Funder
Key reports from the Office of Health Economics on market barriers, investment needs, access challenges and market-shaping approaches for AMR diagnostics.
Market, access & economic analysis
PACE is a £30 million initiative that will focus on early-stage antimicrobial drug and diagnostics projects. It will help the best innovators move their research forward with greater speed and confidence.
Funder
The AMR Diagnostic Initiative aims to position diagnostics at the forefront of the global response to AMR. The initiative focuses on strengthening bacteriology and mycology diagnostic capacity, enhancing laboratory systems, and improving service delivery across all levels of the health system, with a particular emphasis on low-resource settings.
Capacity Building
2025 Landscape analysis of commercially available and pipeline in vitro diagnostics for bacterial priority pathogens
Priority setting
GLASS-AMR provides a standardized approach to the collection, analysis and sharing of AMR data by countries and seeks to support capacity development and to monitor the status of existing or newly-developed national AMR surveillance systems.
Diagnostics & Surveillance access
