Currently, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that up to one-third of the world’s population may have such dormant TB infections. The new blood-based TB test outperforms all others currently on the market and takes just hours to complete. This is critical since effective TB control requires that patients start treatment as soon as possible to reduce the risk of spreading TB. This test also holds promise for rapid assessment of TB treatment, an important factor in reducing the development and spread of drug-resistant TB strains, researchers said. Current TB assays often demonstrate reduced performance with HIV-positive TB patients or those with TB infections in non-lung tissues, and these patients can require tissue biopsies for diagnosis.

Source: Hindustan Times March 28, 2017 12:33 UTC