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UK scientists devise ‘one-hour test’ for TB
"The diagnoses of TB is extremely difficult today. If you had a test which rapidly and at the point of care could detect TB immediately you would gain weeks or months in treating that person and avoid them going around for another five to eight weeks infecting others."
- Dr Mario Raviglione, DIrector of WHO
Scientists in the UK say they have devised a new ultra-sensitive test which can diagnose the presence of the tuberculosis bacterium in one hour.
Its developers claim the test can spot all strains of the disease and could reduce both the incidence and the consequences of the disease worldwide
According to the World Health Organization, in 2008, an estimated 1.3 million people died from TB worldwide.
Dr Mario Raviglione, director of the World Heath Organization's Stop TB department, says these new generation tests could potentially revolutionise TB treatment.