New Blood Test Cuts Diagnosis Time for Nontuberculous Mycobacteria Infections from Months to Hours
By LabMedica International staff writers Posted on 18 Mar 2024 |
Breathing in nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is a common experience for many people. These bacteria are present in water systems, soil, and dust all over the world and usually don't cause any problems. However, for individuals with certain underlying health conditions, these bacteria can lead to lung infections, showing symptoms similar to those of tuberculosis. Such infections can lead to chronic coughing, sometimes with blood, and scarring that increases susceptibility to respiratory infections like bronchitis and pneumonia. Diagnosing and treating these infections is a lengthy process due to the slow growth rate of the bacteria. With the number of NTM infection cases rising each year, partly due to climate change, there's a pressing need for quick and precise diagnostic methods. Researchers have now introduced a CRISPR-based testing platform capable of identifying NTM infections using blood samples, providing results in as little as two hours.
Researchers at Tulane University (New Orleans, LA, USA) developed the blood test specifically to detect mycobacteria avium complex (MAC), which is one of the most common types of NTM and the leading cause of NTM lung disease. The test works by identifying NTM DNA fragments in the blood. Unlike current diagnostic methods, which require growing the slow-developing bacteria over an extended period, this test offers a quicker solution. Considering there are over 190 species of NTM, identifying the correct infection can be challenging. The researchers demonstrated that their blood test successfully identified NTM infections in over 93% of affected patients. Going forward, the team plans to broaden the range of detectable NTM species using CRISPR and to develop tests that can be administered at the point of care for quicker NTM detection.
“NTM infection is highly underestimated, and due to the slow diagnosis of it, patients with NTM infection are not effectively treated,” said Bo Ning, assistant professor of molecular biology at Tulane University School of Medicine. “Importantly, our blood test can analyze NTM DNA fragments in the bloodstream, thereby inferring a drug response, which is crucial for rapidly determining treatment plans, capabilities traditional diagnostic approaches cannot achieve.”
“Not only can our blood test provide same-day results, this test can be quickly performed in any clinics where blood can be drawn and does not require specialized training or equipment needed to analyze bacteria cultures,” added Ning.
Related Links:
Tulane University
Latest Microbiology News
- Integrated Solution Ushers New Era of Automated Tuberculosis Testing
- Automated Sepsis Test System Enables Rapid Diagnosis for Patients with Severe Bloodstream Infections
- Enhanced Rapid Syndromic Molecular Diagnostic Solution Detects Broad Range of Infectious Diseases
- Clinical Decision Support Software a Game-Changer in Antimicrobial Resistance Battle
- New CE-Marked Hepatitis Assays to Help Diagnose Infections Earlier
- 1 Hour, Direct-From-Blood Multiplex PCR Test Identifies 95% of Sepsis-Causing Pathogens
- Mouth Bacteria Test Could Predict Colon Cancer Progression
- Unique Metabolic Signature Could Enable Sepsis Diagnosis within One Hour of Blood Collection
- Groundbreaking Diagnostic Platform Provides AST Results With Unprecedented Speed
- Simple Blood Test Combined With Personalized Risk Model Improves Sepsis Diagnosis
- Blood Analysis Predicts Sepsis and Organ Failure in Children
- TB Blood Test Could Detect Millions of Silent Spreaders
- New Tuberculosis Test to Expand Testing Access in Low- and Middle-Income Countries
- Rapid Test Diagnoses Tropical Disease within Hours for Faster Antibiotics Treatment
- Rapid Molecular Testing Enables Faster, More Targeted Antibiotic Treatment for Pneumonia
- Rapid AST Platform Provides Targeted Therapeutic Results Days Faster Than Current Standard of Care