Funding collaboration brings fast new test for TB meningitis diagnosis

A NEW rapid test that diagnoses TB meningitis within two hours has been developed, thanks to a partnership between UCT and Antrum Biotech.

The test is currently undergoing validation to enter the global market, according to UCT.

The institution said until now, diagnostic tests have not been as quick or as sensitive as they need to be.

Finding a sensitive, rapid test for TB meningitis has been elusive, but thanks to BioFISA II funding and researchers at Antrum Biotech, one has been developed.

“Detection under the microscope only works 5% of the time. Smear microscopy is a very poor test.

“Another existing test for TB meningitis involves growing the bug in the lab in a culture, and there are problems with that too,” said Professor Keertan Dheda, director of the Centre for Lung Infection and Immunity at UCT.

The culture-based test has a sensitivity of only 60% to 70%, and it can take four to eight weeks to give a result.

“By then most people would have died, or they would have developed severe disabilities due to the disease,” said Dheda.

UCT said the GeneXpert DNA detection test for TB is widely used in South Africa, but studies show it is not sensitive enough to detect TB meningitis, but the test has limited sensitivity.

“Although it is rapid in getting the answer on the same day, the problem is that it detects TB meningitis in only 50%-60% of cases; we have a major unmet need for a more sensitive test,” says Dheda.

“Preliminary results from our studies show a vast improvement in sensitivity when compared to GeneXpert,” he says.

Antrum Biotech chief executive Khilona Radia said: “The accurate diagnosis of TB meningitis represents an unmet need in public health, with problems of missed diagnosis and misdiagnosis affecting health outcomes.

“The greatest need for the test is in populations with a high burden of TB and HIV, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa where the test will be evaluated and launched.

“The long-term goal of this project is to reduce global TB meningitis deaths.”

Two percent of TB cases, which are caused by mycobacterium tuberculosis, develop into an infection of the membranes around the central nervous system (meninges).

This TB meningitis can cause death or disability, especially in children, but is easily treatable if diagnosed early.