Many neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) can be diagnosed in the laboratory using simple and inexpensive microscopy, serology, and culture techniques. Some diseases, particularly those caused by parasites, can be detected in stool samples.
While most NTDs can be recognized and diagnosed in a clinical setting by trained health professionals, many are not because those infected are typically poor and do not have access to quality health care and lab facilities. In these cases, creating easier access to better facilities would allow affected people to receive treatment for NTDs more quickly—thus avoiding many complications of advanced disease.