New skin patch test revolutionizes TB detection, aids low-income areas

Early detection of tuberculosis is crucial in combating the disease that claims 1.5 million lives annually. Current diagnostic methods are slow and inaccessible in low-income areas. A new skin patch test, detecting TB through chemical signatures, shows promise as an inexpensive, non-invasive screening tool. This breakthrough could revolutionize disease detection, with potential applications beyond TB, like malaria. The research was co-authored by Portia Makhubela and Egmont Rohwer.