Rapid tuberculosis diagnosis method

2002/11/01 Elhuyar Zientzia Iturria: Elhuyar aldizkaria

• Medikuntza

Although it was thought that tuberculosis was under control, it is recovering. To prevent this, it is very important to diagnose it on time. However, the diagnostic test currently used is not entirely safe. The tuberculin test involves the introduction under the skin of a protein part of bacillus (Mycobacterium tuberculosis), which causes tuberculosis, and its possible reaction to the skin.

But to know the result you have to wait the days and also sometimes gives false positives.

To overcome these problems, researchers from the Leicester University of Great Britain have developed a genome-based method of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Once selected some genome markers, they have prepared a DNA test capable of detecting bacillus in the patient's blood for 2-3 hours.