Historically, tuberculosis tests have predominantly relied on microbiological analysis of sputum, which is mucus from the lower airways. Acquiring such samples from children is a challenging task.
Led by LMU, an international research consortium has successfully tested a novel rapid diagnostic tool that requires only a fingertip blood sample.
Tuberculosis claims the lives of approximately 240,000 children worldwide annually, ranking among the top ten causes of death in children under five. A major contributing factor to this grim statistic is the frequent misdiagnosis or delayed diagnosis of tuberculosis, especially in resource-constrained regions. In a substantial study spanning five countries, an international research consortium spearheaded by LMU medical scientists Laura Olbrich and Norbert Heinrich from the Division of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine at LMU University Hospital Munich has examined a groundbreaking diagnostic tool. The findings of this study have been documented in The Lancet Infectious Diseases.
Historically, tuberculosis tests have predominantly relied on microbiological analysis of sputum, which is mucus from the lower airways. Acquiring such samples from children is a challenging task. Furthermore, pediatric tuberculosis often presents with low bacterial load and nonspecific symptoms. Laura Olbrich emphasizes the pressing need for innovative tests, stating, "Therefore, new tests are urgently needed."
The new diagnostic tool evaluated by the researchers is founded on the activity of three specific genes, measurable in capillary blood. A semi-automatic system facilitates the identification of a "transcriptomic signature" for these genes, aiding in tuberculosis diagnosis. Notably, this test offers the convenience of obtaining a blood sample from the fingertip and delivers results quickly, typically within just over an hour. In contrast, most other tests require samples to be dispatched to external laboratories for analysis, as Laura Olbrich explains.
The researchers trialed this innovative tool as part of the comprehensive RaPaed-TB tuberculosis study, directed by Heinrich and carried out in collaboration with partners in South Africa, Mozambique, Tanzania, Malawi, and India. The study encompassed 975 children under 15 years suspected of having tuberculosis. To gauge the accuracy of the test, the researchers additionally assessed the children's tuberculosis status using a standardized reference test, which relies on sputum analysis and bacterial cultures.