Rapid Point-of-Care Urinary Reporter Assay for the Detection of Tuberculosis

Jennifer Andrew of the University of Florida in the U.S. will develop a non-invasive diagnostic platform for the detection of tuberculosis (TB). Nanoparticles will be attached to a polymer matrix to form a dry powder for delivery by inhalation to the lungs, where the presence of TB-infected cells will stimulate nanoparticle release. A simple test strip will detect the presence of released nanoparticles in urine within four hours as a rapid field-based TB diagnostic.