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Label-Free and Real-Time Detection of Tuberculosis in Human Urine Samples Using a Nanophotonic Point-of-Care Platform
Patricia Ramirez-Priego1, Daan Martens2,3, Ayssar A Elamin4
1Nanobiosensors and Bioanalytical Applications Group, Catalan Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (ICN2), CSIC, BIST and CIBER-BBN, Campus UAB, Bellaterra, 08193 Barcelona , Spain.
ACS Sensors
|October 2, 2018
Summary
A new point-of-care (POC) diagnostic platform detects tuberculosis (TB) directly from urine. This rapid, low-cost immunoassay shows high sensitivity and specificity, aiding TB diagnosis in resource-limited settings.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Infectious Disease Diagnostics
- Point-of-Care Technology
Background:
- Tuberculosis (TB) remains a leading cause of death globally, particularly in low-resource settings.
- Current diagnostic methods face limitations, hindering prompt and widespread detection.
- There is a critical need for accessible, reliable point-of-care (POC) diagnostic tools for TB.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel POC platform for the direct, noninvasive detection of TB in human urine.
- To utilize a Mach-Zehnder Interferometer (MZI) photonic sensor for highly sensitive TB biomarker detection.
- To enable real-time monitoring and data processing for rapid TB diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Development of a POC platform integrating a photonic sensor chip (MZI transducer with spectral filter) in a disposable cartridge.
- Optimization of parameters for direct immunoassay detection of lipoarabinomannan (LAM) in human urine.
- Validation of the platform using clinical samples from TB patients and healthy donors.
Main Results:
- Achieved a limit of detection of 475 pg/mL (27.14 pM) for LAM in undiluted human urine within 15 minutes.
- Demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in detecting TB in clinical samples, irrespective of HIV coinfection.
- Results showed excellent correlation with standard diagnostic techniques.
Conclusions:
- The novel POC platform offers a sensitive, specific, and rapid method for direct TB detection in urine.
- This technology has significant potential for routine TB screening in resource-limited countries.
- The platform represents a promising advancement in combating global TB mortality.
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