Tezpur University team develops low-cost device to detect tuberculosis

GUWAHATI

A team of researchers from central Assam’s Tezpur University has developed an affordable and portable device to detect tuberculosis (TB).

The researchers said the device, using the autofluorescence or natural glow of the TB bacteria for detection instead of any chemical or dye, has been specially designed for use in rural and remote areas where advanced medical facilities are not easily available.

Pabitra Nath of the university’s Department of Physics and the team leader, said the device has a built-in heating system to improve test accuracy and can be operated using a smartphone.

“It costs under ₹25,000 and weighs less than 300 grams, making it a perfect fit for places with limited healthcare infrastructure,” he said.

The other members of the team are Biprav Chetry and Chunuranjan Dutta, research scholars from Tezpur University’s Department of Physics; J.P. Saikia and Santanu Goswami from the Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology; and Abhijit Gogoi from Labdig Innovations and Systems Private Limited.

Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial in stopping the spread of TB, a major public health issue in India. The World Health Organization (WHO) and India’s National TB Elimination Programme currently recommend LED fluorescence microscopy as the gold standard for TB screening.

However, the standard testing method recommended by the WHO needs expensive machines and trained technicians, which are not available in many rural areas. The new device can solve this problem by making TB testing simpler and more accessible, the researchers said.

“While LED-FM offers higher sensitivity than conventional optical microscopy, it has several drawbacks. It depends on costly equipment, chemical staining agents like auramine-O, and trained personnel for sample preparation and interpretation. Furthermore, its reliance on laboratory infrastructure makes it impractical in many rural settings,” Professor Nath said.

The device developed by the Tezpur University researchers leverages the principle of autofluorescence, a natural property of certain microbial cells, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis (mTB) cells, that emit a fluorescence signal when excited by a specific wavelength of light.

“The team’s key innovation lies in the integration of a heating element within the sensor system. By raising the temperature of the bacterial sample, the system enhances the natural fluorescence signal from mTB cells, enabling trace-level detection without the use of stains or dyes,” Prof. Nath explained.

The team has filed a patent for the device, and their study was published in Biosensors and Bioelectronics, an international journal.