Scientists Develop New Blood Test Technology to Detect Active Tuberculosis
Islamabad: Researchers at the University of California, Davis have developed a new blood test technology for tuberculosis (TB) that can accurately identify active and contagious forms of the disease. This breakthrough aims to enable faster diagnosis, timely treatment, and help prevent the spread of TB.
Current TB tests cannot distinguish between active infection and latent (hidden) infection. While TB is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis, only individuals with active TB can transmit the disease to others through coughing, sneezing, or talking.
Professor Imran H. Khan explained that in TB-affected countries, about 35–40% of the general population carry latent infection, meaning they have been exposed to the bacterium but may never develop the disease. Tests that detect latent infection alone are less effective in identifying the real risk—those with active TB who can unknowingly spread it.
Experts say this new technology could become a critical milestone in the global fight against tuberculosis, improving early detection and containment efforts.
