A newly developed portable test device can reliably detect tuberculosis (TB) in less than 30 minutes. The "MiniDock MTB" test delivers accurate results from both sputum samples and throat swabs and could significantly accelerate the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis, especially in resource-poor regions.
In a study with 1,380 participants aged 12 and over from seven countries in Asia and Africa, the test identified more than 85 percent of confirmed tuberculosis cases when using sputum and almost 80 percent with throat swabs. The rate of false positive results was less than 2.5 percent. The test was more sensitive than microscopy-based methods, achieving comparable sensitivity to established molecular DNA tests with sputum samples. It met the performance targets set by the World Health Organization (WHO) and was rated as easy to use by medical personnel.
The study was led by Dr. Adithya Cattamanchi from the University of California, Irvine and San Francisco, and published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The researchers emphasize that the test is particularly suitable for children and adults who have difficulty producing sufficient sputum.
Tuberculosis remains one of the most common infectious causes of death worldwide. A major problem in many high-burden countries is delayed diagnosis, as conventional tests can often only be performed in central laboratories and results are not available for days or weeks. The new portable test enables diagnosis on the same day, allowing for faster treatment initiation.
The developers see MiniDock MTB as an important step in reducing undiagnosed tuberculosis cases and curbing disease transmission. The study was supported by several international funders, including the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
The results suggest that the test could play an important role in global tuberculosis control in the future, especially in regions with limited laboratory infrastructure.
