Current diagnostics are sputum dependent.
Obtaining sputum from the lungs is hazardous and slow.
Sputum-based testing is inherently unreliable
in HIV-burdened populations.
Obtaining sputum samples is difficult in:
Children
ICU patients
Trauma unit admissions
Patients with weak immune systems
HIV patients
Sputum-based diagnosis is ineffective to diagnose
extra-pulmonary TB (16-20% of all TB).
3,5 million cases of TB were mis-diagnosed in 2014.
- World Health Organisation 2015
Early detection is paramount, therefore true point-of-care testing is required.
- Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics, 2015
