New Handheld Device Diagnoses TB Without a Lab in Under an Hour, Researchers Say

Tulane University researchers have developed a portable, smartphone-sized device capable of diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) in less than an hour without the need for a laboratory—a potential game-changer for low- and middle-income countries where TB is most prevalent.

Saliva-based testing for TB is particularly exciting because it can be easily obtained in all patients and can be used for portable testing without the need for blood draw.

Brady Youngquist

Published yesterday in Science Translational Medicine¹, the study details a battery-powered, microprocessor-controlled device that detects Mycobacterium tuberculosis in saliva, blood, and sputum with high accuracy. The innovation could significantly improve TB diagnosis in regions with limited access to healthcare facilities and lab equipment.

A Faster, Cheaper, and More Accessible Solution

TB remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, with over 90% of new cases occurring in low- and middle-income countries. Current diagnostic methods often require lab-based DNA isolation, trained personnel, and costly equipment, creating barriers to timely detection and treatment.

The new device eliminates these hurdles by using a DNA-enrichment membrane and a cellulose disc containing DNA-amplification reagents, delivering results without traditional lab procedures. Its liquid crystal display (LCD) interface automates the testing process, making it user-friendly even in remote settings.

High Accuracy Meets WHO Standards

In trials involving children in the Dominican Republic, the device demonstrated 81% sensitivity in detecting pulmonary and extrapulmonary TB—outperforming a more expensive comparator (68% sensitivity)—while maintaining 94% specificity, meeting World Health Organization (WHO) criteria for non-sputum TB tests.

Notably, the device also tracked treatment progress by detecting changes in serum cell-free DNA, offering clinicians a way to monitor patient response. Additionally, tests using saliva and sputum from adults with pulmonary TB yielded results comparable to standard lab methods.

Saliva Testing: A Major Advance

One of the most promising aspects of the device is its ability to diagnose TB using saliva, a sample type that is far easier to collect than blood or sputum—especially in children and HIV-positive patients, who often struggle to produce sputum.

“Saliva-based testing for TB is particularly exciting because it can be easily obtained in all patients and can be used for portable testing without the need for blood draw,” said lead author Brady Youngquist, a graduate student at Tulane.

A Critical Tool for Global TB Control

Senior author Tony Hu, PhD², emphasized the device’s potential impact: “TB remains a critical public health concern in low-income countries, and diagnosis using a cheap, simple test like we’ve developed is needed not only to treat patients with TB but to prevent further spread of the disease.”

TB remains a critical public health concern in low-income countries and diagnosis using a cheap, simple test like we’ve developed is needed not only to treat patients with TB but prevent further spread of the disease. An estimated 4.2 million TB cases were undiagnosed or unreported in 2021, largely due to limitations and costs of testing in areas with high disease burden.”

Tony Hu, PhD, Senior Author, Weatherhead Presidential Chair in Biotechnology Innovation and Director of the Tulane Center for Cellular & Molecular Diagnostics

With further development, this handheld diagnostic tool could transform TB detection in resource-limited areas, enabling faster treatment and reducing transmission. The research team hopes to scale up production and deployment, bringing rapid, lab-free TB testing to the communities that need it most.