Introducing revolutionary TB test for rapid diagnosis

World Health Organisation (WHO) has endorsed a novel test for rapid diagnosis of Tuberculosis (TB) very recently. The new test called NAAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) is helpful for early diagnosis of TB, particularly revolutionary role in much quicker diagnosis of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and TB complicated by HIV infection, which are more difficult to diagnose. Experts expressed their hope that the test would play a crucial role in reducing burden of TB for a country like Bangladesh who is listed as 6th highest burden TB country.
WHO has approved the test after 18 months of rigorous assessment of its field effectiveness and now calling policymaker to incorporate the NAAT test into national plans for TB and MDR-TB care and control. The new test — developed over five years by a public-private partnership between Foundation for Innovative and New Diagnostics (FIND), a California-based company called Cepheid Inc., and the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in the US — uses polymerase-chain-reaction (PCR) technology to detect the DNA of the TB bacterium.
The current sputum culture test used for diagnosis of MDR-TB requires sophisticated laboratories and skilled technicians and takes longer period up to three months, by which time the patient may have infected more and, in many cases, died. In contrast, the new test can diagnose in just 100 minutes. The treatment of patients can be provided instantly at the same setting of testing. The test is fully automated, easy to handle and less chance of error by technician. It can be performed without a conventional laboratory setting.
Moreover, the accuracy of the test is much higher than conventional tests. Although the new test has numerous advantages the affordability is a key concern in a developing countries like Bangladesh.
Co-developer FIND has announced that it has negotiated with the manufacturer, Cepheid, a 75 percent reduction in the price for countries most affected by TB. However, many experts said that the price is comparatively less, as it does not include the cost to set up and staff a lab that conducts the conventional test.
Prof Dr Iqbal Hasan Mahmmod, a Respiratory Medicine Specialist said, "The new test will be very important for our country and other developing countries fighting TB epidemics. Rather than role in diagnosis of ordinary TB, it will have great use in diagnosis of drug susceptibility for MDR-TB more accurately and swiftly. In order to make successful implementation, the financial barriers should be eliminated for poor people."
Along with the conventional sputum diagnosis for ordinary TB, it should be implemented for early diagnosis of drug resistant TB. South Africa, India, Uganda, and several other countries plan to roll out the test immediately.
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