Scientists seek TB rapid test

Scientists from the National University of Singapore (NUS), Singapore Lipidomics Incubator (SLING) and the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics (FIND) are collaborating to look for new biomarkers.

The teams will be looking for novel molecules that will act as a tool for the detection of active tuberculosis (TB), with an aim to then introduce them into a diagnostic test.

While scientists have been looking for diagnostic tests for several years, the World Health Organization (WHO) has claimed existing examples are not accurate enough.

"A sensitive, pathogen-specific, point-of-care test for TB case detection would represent a breakthrough in TB diagnostics for disease endemic settings, but we have so far been hampered by a lack of appropriate biomarkers," said Dr Gerd Michel, senior sechnology officer at FIND and leader of the FIND project.

However, he added that he hopes to redress this in current work with NUS and create a rapid test for TB.

If successful, the test would then enter evaluation and demonstration trials prior to submission for approval with WHO.

Posted by Ben Evans