New diagnosis technique to cut TB death risk

Diagnostics (FIND),the new DNA based MDR- TB diagnosis technique has already been implemented in many countries,and is all set for implementation within a year here.

In the new technique,the DNA from the sputum of the suspected MDR case will be isolated,amplified and hybridised. The results will be available within 24 to 48 hours.

“Number of lives can be saved and more number of patients can be diagnosed. We are not able to extend the activity of second line treatment because of the time taken by the traditional process,” said Kiran Rade,WHO consultant for Gujarat said.

“In the mean time,the disease is prolonged and sometimes the patients die due to the unavailability of the second line drug,” he added.

Of the five centres selected for the pilot study — the others being Hyderabad,Chennai,Agra and Rajasthan — the Ahmedabad centre has shown a high efficacy rate.

Rade said: “The testing needs extremely controlled environment for perfection. Other centres have shown 2 to 5 percent contamination in the reports. Though we were asked to test over 50 patients,we have extended the study to more than 100 patients.”

Narendu Joshi,state microbiologist,added: “Till now,we have had a 100 percent efficacy,but the results of the remaining diagnosis with traditional method,which is due in July,will reassure the reports.”

The pilot study was conducted on over the 150 patients detected with MDR –TB,which is being tallied with the traditional culture diagnosis.

The DNA based MDR-TB diagnosis will also be provided free of cost under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP).