Rapid TB Test Detects Only Active Disease

A new rapid test for tuberculosis (TB) measures only active disease and has a sensitivity of 80%, a specificity of 100%, and no false-positives, exceeding the accuracy of existing tests.

Existing TB tests routinely produce false-positives when a person has previously been vaccinated against TB. This results in further testing that is expensive, stressful, and time consuming. The new test, called Vscan, is the only known test for TB that measures only active TB and has no false positives, states Medical Services International, Inc. (Edmonton, Canada), which developed the test.

The disposable test requires only a single drop of blood (or serum or plasma) and produces results in less than 20 minutes. Since the test does not require either electricity or refrigeration, the kit can be used anywhere, from remote areas to a doctor's office, and is easy to interpret. Medical Services is undergoing independent evaluations that will add to its existing database and assist in the company's marketing and regulatory approval process.





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Medical Services International