Global health R&D at work in Michigan
Michigan State University (MSU) researchers have developed a low-cost test that uses nanoparticles to diagnose tuberculosis (TB). Currently, the two most common approaches for diagnosing TB globally are smear microscopy—using a microscope to examine a sample—and automated PCR testing machines. The former requires skilled health workers and often results in misdiagnosis, while the latter is accurate but remains expensive for many low- and middle-income countries to implement. The MSU approach uses magnetic nanoparticles and stain, which are mixed with a patient’s sputum sample and exposed to a magnet, resulting in either a clustering pattern or dispersal of the nanoparticles that designates the diagnosis. The test is about 30 times cheaper than PCR testing, requires minimal training, and all supplies can be stored at room temperature—making it a promising technology for use in low-resource communities worldwide.