Chinese researchers have developed an innovative method for diagnosing tuberculosis: a simple blood test can now detect the disease with up to 97 % accuracy. This eliminates the need to collect and analyze sputum samples. The development was announced by the press service of the Association for Diagnostics and Laboratory Medicine (ADLM). The authors believe the method will make large‑scale TB screening easier and more affordable.
The technology is based on measuring the level of ESAT‑6 protein, which is produced by the tuberculosis pathogen. As Pan Shengwei, a researcher at the Taipei Veterans General Hospital, explained, the concentration of this protein increases as the infection progresses. Therefore, the new approach is more reliable than traditional methods that rely on biomarkers produced by the human body.
Early diagnosis is critical: at initial stages, when symptoms are not yet present, tuberculosis responds well to antibiotic treatment. Currently, confirming the diagnosis often requires sputum analysis—a time‑consuming and labor‑intensive process. Previously, ESAT‑6 had been considered a potential disease marker, but older techniques could not clearly differentiate between active tuberculosis, latent infection, and other lung conditions.
Scientists overcame this limitation using modern technologies that enable precise measurement of ESAT‑6 concentration in blood. Now the method can distinguish results among patients with varying severity of tuberculosis and among people with other respiratory diseases. The approach was tested on a sample of 217 individuals, including healthy volunteers, TB patients, people with lung cancer, and those with respiratory infections.
Tests confirmed that the new test detects tuberculosis with 97 % accuracy, while current blood tests yield correct results only in 65–68 % of cases. Researchers believe that implementing the technology will help identify infection hotspots faster, initiate timely treatment, and reduce the burden on healthcare facilities.
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