Urine-Based Diagnostics Tool Detects Tuberculosis

An optical biosensor diagnostics device detects tuberculosis in urine samples in 15-20 min.

The waveguide-based system is capable of providing a qualitative tuberculosis diagnosis in a very short time using only a few drops of human urine. This is a significant breakthrough compared to sputum, blood, and skin tests that often take several days or weeks for results. Recently developed polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based diagnostics, which take approximately two hours to produce results, are significantly more expensive.

Biomagnetics Diagnostics Corporation (Orangevale, CA, USA) is currently developing the waveguide-based advanced integrated optical biosensor through its cooperative research and development agreement with Los Alamos National Security, LLC (Santa Fe, NM, USA). The biosensor will initially be used for cholera, tuberculosis, and malaria diagnosis.

The optical biosensor was introduced in a video that can be viewed online (please see Related Links below).

Clayton Hardman, CEO of Biomagnetics Diagnostics commented, "While the current cost profile is already significantly lower than other tests, we are already working on a new waveguide design that will likely allow us to reduce the cost per test even further. The unit shown in this video is a desktop unit; however, the products for ultimate delivery to the market will also include a handheld device that can be operated by relatively untrained medical personnel at the point of patient care. We see nothing on the market today, or on the immediate horizon, that can compare to the capabilities of this technology."

Related Links:
Biomagnetics Diagnostics Corporation
Los Alamos National Security, LLC
Optical Biosensor Video