BioCentury
ARTICLE | Tools & Techniques

Spit decision

Rapid whole-genome sequencing diagnoses drug-sensitive and drug-resistant TB

June 4, 2015 7:00 AM UTC

A new method for sequencing whole bacterial genomes from sputum, developed by a group at University College London, could cut the time it takes to diagnose tuberculosis from weeks to days by eliminating the need to culture the organisms. As well as speeding the delivery of the right treatment to patients, the technique could be used to track the spread of TB in communities and identify "super spreader" patients to allow better containment of the disease. But until its costs can be lowered, the method will have little impact in developing world settings where it's needed most.

Stephen Murray, senior medical officer at the Global Alliance for TB Drug Development (TB Alliance) told BioCentury that new methods that speed up diagnostics, retain accuracy and detect resistance mutations are sorely needed in TB...