New Portable Test Enables Rapid Tuberculosis Detection via Tongue Swabs
Diagnosing tuberculosis, identified as the world’s most lethal infectious disease, may soon become accessible to millions through a portable testing method that requires minimal training and no expensive laboratory infrastructure.
A new portable device utilizes tests costing $4 to detect tuberculosis (TB) from tongue swabs within 30 minutes. In March, the World Health Organization provided the first official endorsement for a TB test capable of being used at community sites without the need for laboratories or high-level technical expertise.
Expanding Access to Molecular Testing
The endorsement of this technology opens a pathway to bring accurate molecular TB testing directly into the clinics where most patients typically seek care, according to pulmonologist Adithya Cattamanchi of the University of California, Irvine.
While antibiotics can cure the disease, more than one-quarter of the 10 million people who suffer from TB annually remain untreated or undiagnosed.
Overcoming Traditional Diagnostic Barriers
Traditional smear microscopy relies on phlegm samples and can take 24 hours for results. However, at least one in four people—including the elderly, children, and those with HIV—cannot produce phlegm adequately.
While the WHO previously recommended diagnostics that generate DNA traces of the bacterium, those methods require expensive laboratory infrastructure. The MiniDock MTB, developed by Pluslife Biotech in Guangzhou, China, is designed to operate in rural clinics, community health posts, or even outdoors.
The setup costs under $400, operates via wall power or a power bank, and requires minimal training to implement.
How the MiniDock MTB Operates
The process begins with the collection of a phlegm sample or a tongue swab. A machine then spins and heats the sample tube to release genetic material.
A worker pours the sample into a test card slot and loads it into the MiniDock platform. The device then detects TB bacterial DNA within 12 to 25 minutes.
Clinical Performance and Accuracy
In a study involving 1,380 people aged 12 or older across seven countries with high TB rates, the MiniDock MTB met WHO accuracy goals. It successfully detected TB in 80 percent of positive tongue swabs and 86 percent of positive phlegm samples.
When using phlegm, the device outperformed smear microscopy by 24 percent and performed similarly to expensive laboratory standards.
Limitations and Future Developments
The device currently faces some limitations, including lower sensitivity when samples contain few bacteria, which is common during the early stages of the disease. The MiniDock MTB cannot currently detect drug-resistant TB.
To address these gaps, Pluslife is fast-tracking the development of cards that may detect drug resistance. Epidemiologists suggest the tool could be used in conjunction with other tests to improve early detection rates.
Further research may expand diagnostics to include RNA patterns in proteins, metabolites, and blood, which could allow for detection without requiring airway specimens.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the MiniDock MTB?
This proves a portable diagnostic device created by Pluslife Biotech that detects tuberculosis bacterial DNA from tongue swabs or phlegm in 12 to 25 minutes.
Why are tongue swabs significant for TB testing?
Tongue swabs provide a diagnostic alternative for the estimated one in four patients—including children and people with HIV—who cannot produce enough phlegm for traditional tests.
Does the device detect all types of tuberculosis?
The current version of the MiniDock MTB does not detect drug-resistant TB, though development for such capabilities is currently being fast-tracked.
How could the availability of low-cost, portable testing change the approach to managing infectious diseases in rural areas?