Probing for a point-of-care TB test
Existing tests to screen patients for tuberculosis are impractical in the point-of-care setting as they are either too slow, lack sensitivity or require specialized lab equipment.1,2 Researchers at Stanford University and Texas A&M University have synthesized highly sensitive class A b-lactamase-specific fluorogenic probes that could potentially address all three shortcomings.3 Global BioDiagnostics Corp. has in-licensed the technology.
Currently, there is no rapid and accurate point-of-care diagnostic for TB infection. Sputum smear microscopy is one of the quickest and simplest methods to screen patients but has low sensitivity, which leads to a high false-negative rate. Culture-based techniques are the gold standard but require several weeks before results are available due to the slow growth rate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis...