New blood test for diagnosing TB in children shown to be both fast and accurate

A study has shown a new blood test to be a fast and reliable way of diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) in children.

As part of the research, which was published in the journal, Lancet Infectious Diseases, the test was tried out in areas of Tanzania where TB is very common among children who had symptoms of the disease.  

Blood samples were taken from the children alongside mucus samples, so that the accuracy of the new test could be compared with the current method.

The researchers found that the blood test was sensitive enough to reliably pick up on active TB in children. It also has the advantage of being quicker than the existing test.

These findings could be promising for the diagnosis of TB among children, which can be notoriously difficult. Researchers are now working to further improve the test’s performance and try to make it as cost-effective as possible.

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Read a summary of the journal article.