A blood test breakthrough could help identify hidden tuberculosis cases

Scientists from the University of Southampton are on the verge of unveiling a blood test that could uncover millions of undetected tuberculosis (TB) cases

Tuberculosis, one of the world’s most harmful infectious diseases, claims over one million lives annually, according to the World Health Organization.

Detecting tuberculosis

Researchers now believe they are closer to creating a solution that could impact global health.

Through detailed analysis of proteins in the blood of individuals with active TB, researchers found six biological markers that were consistently elevated in infectious patients.

This discovery offers a glimmer of hope for identifying the estimated three million TB cases that slipped under the radar last year, primarily in developing nations with low detection and treatment resources.

TB, known for its stealthy spread, primarily infects the lungs but can cause problems anywhere within the body.

Tuberculosis cases are on the rise, but why?

With cases rising, even in regions like the UK, where approximately 5,000 cases were reported last year, the urgency for a quick and reliable detection method has never been more important.

The research, conducted in collaboration with experts from the University of Cape Town in South Africa and Cayetano Heredia University in Lima, Peru, used innovative techniques to identify these critical biomarkers.

By comparing the protein profiles of TB patients with those of healthy individuals and patients with other lung infections, scientists pinpointed 118 proteins that exhibited significant differences across the groups.

From this, they focused on the six proteins key to distinguishing contagious TB patients from their healthy participants or those with different lung conditions.

A similar method used in lateral flow tests to be utilised to detect TB

Sky News reported that Lead author Dr Hannah Schiff, a respiratory expert at the University of Southampton, expressed optimism about the potential impact of this breakthrough.

She emphasised that successfully implementing this blood test could revolutionise TB detection, offering a streamlined approach similar to the lateral flow tests utilised during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Such a simple yet effective diagnostic tool could be a game-changer, particularly in resource-limited settings where traditional diagnostic methods may be impractical or inaccessible.