Blood Test Could Make It Easier to Control TB

US Pharm. 2016;41(3):16.

Stanford, CA—A blood test that can accurately diagnose active tuberculosis (TB) could make it simpler and less costly to control the disease. Scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine have identified a gene-expression signature that can distinguish active TB from latent TB or other diseases in adults and children. Older diagnostic techniques (e.g., skin-prick test, sputum collection) cannot make these distinctions or are less accurate. The new test, which uses an ordinary blood sample, makes it unnecessary to collect sputum and can signal TB infection in patients with HIV; it also distinguishes latent TB or history of TB vaccine. It does not matter which TB strain is involved or if it has evolved resistance to antibiotics.