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25SCIENTISTS DEVELOP NEWSKIN TEST FOR TBThe new method is a non-invasive, quick and highly accurate wayof detecting the disease.The new diagnostic pathway, calledA‑Patch, includes nano sensors whichdetect TB compounds emitted fromthe skin. A specifically designed sensorarray translates these findings into apoint‑of‑care diagnosis by discriminatingbetween active pulmonary TB patients andcontrols, with sensitivity above 90% and70% specificity.“This fulfils the World Health Organisationtriage test requirements and has the potentialto become a TB triage or screening test,” saidProfessor Keertan Dheda, the head of UCT’sCentre for Lung Infection and Immunity.Dheda and colleagues tested the tool on asample of 320 people in Cape Town and 316in New Delhi in India. This study populationincluded newly diagnosed and confirmedpulmonary-active TB cases, healthyvolunteers, and confirmed non‑TB cases.The results were published in the journalAdvanced Science.About 95% of TB cases occur indeveloping countries, including locationswhere people live on less than US$1 per day.About one‑third of the world population haslatent TB, with a lifetime risk of 5 to 10% ofdeveloping active disease.“Implementing the sensor array approachinto an adhesive bandage is an additionalstep towards a simple and cost‑effectivewearable patch to address the TB epidemicin both developing and developedcountries,” Dheda said.CLICK HERE TOREAD THE ARTICLE30
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