New method to help diagnose tuberculosis

Dr. Olivier Braissant and his colleagues from the University of Basel, Sweden have developed a new method that can reduce the time taken to diagnose tuberculosis. This method is also cheaper than the methods currently used.

So far, the diagnosis of the disease is usually done by developing and testing the bacteria in the laboratory. This process is usually slow, it can take up to 57 days. More effective methods have been developed and developed.

However, these research trends are often expensive, so developing countries are not able to apply these research applications. Dr. Braissant and his colleagues used a tiny calorimeter to detect the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis . This method has been proven to be more effective and faster than other expensive methods. Because this new study only takes between 5.5 and 12.5 days).

This thermometer will bring hope to tuberculosis patients.

Micro calorimeters (Microcalorimeter) are mainly used in this study, to measure the amount of heat generated in a biological, physical or chemical cycle. The researchers turned the extra heat into an electrical signal. This signal can be amplified and recorded by a computer, so that each bacterium will have a separate voltage tracking graph.

Like many other models, the microcalorimeter can also be used to test bacterial sensitivity. This is done by measuring the development of samples in combination with the presence of antibiotics.

If no development is detected, this drug can be used to fight infection. TB bacteria are very resistant to some antibiotic-resistant TB bacteria. Therefore, this study is really necessary.

Another important feature of this method is that it uses a material available at low prices. Other methods of detecting TB often use expensive materials such as fluorescent probes or radioactive materials (estimated initial costs amount to about 39,000 USD). While the investment cost for this new method is only about 1,000 USD.

Dr. Braissant and his colleagues tested this new method in a laboratory. Therefore, the next step that researchers are cherishing is to experiment and apply widely in the market.

Mr. Braissant explained, 'Microcalorimeters has now been shipped to Tanzania and we hope to receive the first feedback results of our approach in this area later this year.'

About a third of the world's population is facing tuberculosis and only in 2009, there were more than 1.7 million deaths from the disease, of which the highest rate is Africa.

TB is spread through the air through the air. The quick diagnosis at an affordable price is really necessary. This new technique could provide a method for rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis and at a relatively low cost, it will certainly be widely used around the world.