Table 1.

Overview of requirements for and benefits from routine whole-genome sequencing (WGS) in clinical and public health practice.

	Requirements	Benefits
Laboratory	• Technical capacity for real-time WGS	• Timely recognition of laboratory contamination
	• Long-term investment in adequate storage and sequencing infrastructure	• Reduce reliance on phenotypic drug susceptibility testing
	• Long-term investment in adequate data systems and bioinformatic expertise
Clinical	• Simple and clear reporting from laboratories	• Optimise treatment plans and isolation requirements for drug resistance
	• Education regarding the clinical use and public health implications of genotypic findings	• Improved understanding of epidemiological context, including isolation and contact tracing requirements
	• Maintain good communication pathways with laboratories and public health	• Enhanced awareness of TB risk factors
Public health	• Capacity to coordinate timely multi-disciplinary meetings	• Increased efficiency in targeted public health responses
	• Flexible public health staff to respond to findings	• Monitoring, comparing and benchmarking program performance with standardised metrics
	• Public health database with linkage of relevant laboratory and clinical information
	• Legal and governance framework for data sharing and linkage, as well as privacy protection
People with TB	• Understanding the ‘added value’ of WGS for their personal care and community protection	• Better person-centred care; Individualised therapy
	• Willingness to provide information on TB history and potential contacts	• Increased confidence in accurate diagnosis and optimal treatment
Affected community	• Forum for sharing relevant WGS findings in a respectful and sensitive way	• Improved understanding of local risk factors for recent transmission
	• Education regarding the interpretation and implications of WGS	• Enhanced capacity and better-informed participation in community activities for TB risk reduction