A new portable device could make tuberculosis testing much easier and cheaper, especially in areas with limited access to hospitals and laboratories.
Researchers say the device can detect TB from a tongue swab within 30 minutes using a test that costs around $4, or roughly Rs. 1,100. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommended the test in March, marking the first time it has endorsed a molecular TB test that can be used in community settings without full laboratory infrastructure.
The device, called MiniDock MTB, is designed to work in small clinics, remote health posts, and other low-resource settings. It runs on a power bank or wall electricity, costs less than $400 overall, and requires only minimal training to operate.
The testing process is simple. A healthcare worker collects either a tongue swab or a phlegm sample, places it in a tube, and the device processes it to detect TB bacterial DNA. Results can be produced in as little as 12 to 25 minutes.
The development could be significant for millions of patients because TB remains the world’s deadliest infectious disease, yet many cases still go undiagnosed or untreated each year. One major problem is that traditional smear microscopy depends on phlegm samples, which many patients including children, older people, and those living with HIV, often struggle to provide. The older method also misses a large number of cases.
In a multi-country study involving 1,380 people aged 12 and above, the device detected TB in 86 percent of TB-positive phlegm samples and 80 percent of TB-positive tongue swabs. Researchers said its performance met the WHO’s accuracy targets.
While the device was more accurate with phlegm than with tongue swabs, researchers say the swab option still matters because it gives patients an alternative where no usable phlegm sample is available.
The device does have limitations. It cannot yet detect drug-resistant TB, and its sensitivity drops when bacterial levels are very low, especially in the early stages of the disease. Still, experts say it could become an important tool for expanding TB testing in underserved areas.
Researchers are also working on newer TB tests based on blood markers, proteins, and metabolites, but for now, the new portable system could help bring faster and more accessible diagnosis to communities that need it most.
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