A rapid test for diagnosing tuberculosis using the loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) method has been developed by the Central Research Institute of Epidemiology of Rospotrebnadzor.
Tuberculosis, a serious infectious disease primarily affecting the lungs, is caused by mycobacteria. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), TB claimed approximately 1.3 million lives in 2023. It remains the second leading cause of death from a single infectious agent, following COVID-19 (during the pandemic period).
The LAMP analysis offers sensitivity and specificity comparable to conventional PCR diagnostics, while requiring less complex equipment and less time for the amplification process itself. The test takes only 30 minutes, which “significantly speeds up the diagnostic process”.It is a manual assay that takes less than one hour and results can be read with the naked eye. It also enables the detection of pathogens in sputum even at low concentrations.
“Timely diagnosis allows for the initiation of therapy at the early stages of the disease, ensuring a favorable prognosis and effective measures for sanitizing the infection focus,” Rospotrebnadzor noted.
The test was developed as part of the Federal Project “Sanitary Shield of the Country – Safety for Health”.
