A PORTABLE device to detect tuberculosis with the help of a smartphone has been developed by a team of researchers at Tezpur University in Assam. The new device, developed by a team led by professor Pabitra Nath of the Department of Physics, does not need any chemicals or dyes. It uses the natural glow (autofluorescence) of TB bacteria for detection and has a built-in heating system, Nath said. It is also price-effective as it costs under Rs 25,000 and weighs less than 300 gram, which makes it portable and a perfect fit for places with limited healthcare infrastructure, he said. TB is a major public health issue in India, with early and accurate diagnosis crucial to stop its spread, he added.

 

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and India’s National TB Elimination Program recommend LED fluorescence microscopy as the gold standard for TB screening. “While LED-FM offers higher sensitivity than conventional optical microscopy, it has several drawbacks. It depends on costly equipment, chemical staining agents like auramine-O, and trained personnel for sample preparation and interpretation,” Nath said. “Furthermore, its reliance on laboratory infrastructure makes it impractical in many rural settings,” he said.