The Centre for Tuberculosis (CTB) was established in 2012. It was formerly known as the National TB Reference laboratory which was incorporated into the CTB with broader functions. In line with the mandate of the NICD, the CTB conducts laboratory-based public health surveillance of TB in South Africa. It continues to serve as a National TB reference laboratory (NTBRL) and was endorsed by the World Health Organization (WHO) as a supranational reference laboratory in 2016.