New TB Test Offers Hope for HIV Patients

A groundbreaking new tuberculosis test, inspired by a humble beetle, promises faster and more accurate detection of the disease in individuals co-infected with HIV. This innovation could dramatically improve outcomes and help eradicate the world’s deadliest infectious disease.

Revolutionary Handheld Device

Researchers at Tulane University have crafted a novel handheld test called ASTRA (Antigen-Specific T-cell Response Assay). This credit card-sized device needs only a drop of blood and gives results within a single day. Critically, the ASTRA doesn’t require a lab or trained personnel.

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“The goal was to develop a TB test that could be taken anywhere and provide quicker, more accurate results for anybody. Current tests such as the IGRA are cost-prohibitive or require access to facilities that resource-limited communities don’t have. If we are going to eliminate TB, we have to diagnose and treat as many infection cases as possible.”

—Tony Hu, PhD, Senior Author, Weatherhead Presidential Chair in Biotechnology Innovation at Tulane University and director of the Tulane Center for Cellular & Molecular Diagnostics

The World Health Organization estimates that in 2022, 1.3 million people died from TB, making it a leading cause of death globally (Source: WHO 2023). This underscores the urgent need for advancements in detection and treatment.

How It Works

The ASTRA test uses biomarkers to identify tuberculosis, bypassing the immune cells that HIV often weakens. The device uses a “wanted poster” reagent that stimulates immune cells to react. It then harnesses a chemical reaction similar to that of a bombardier beetle for analysis.

The ASTRA provides results in about four hours. This is much quicker than the traditional IGRA blood test, which takes 24 hours, and the common TB skin test, which requires two or three days.

Bo Ning, lead author and assistant professor of biochemistry at Tulane University School of Medicine, stated that the new test could “help block the spread of TB and ensure that no one slips through the cracks.” The ASTRA’s effectiveness was verified via samples from Eswatini.

With drug-resistant TB becoming more prevalent, faster and more accessible testing is vital. Tony Hu emphasized the importance of early diagnosis to facilitate timely treatment, specifically for HIV patients.