Scientists Develop Breakthrough Device to Detect Tuberculosis DNA from Exhaled Air
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New Delhi, Oct 9 (TheTrendingPeople.com): In a landmark step towards improving early detection of tuberculosis (TB), scientists have developed a new diagnostic device capable of identifying TB DNA directly from the air exhaled by patients. The innovation, known as TB Hotspot detectOR (THOR), may transform how the world diagnoses and controls one of the most persistent infectious diseases.
The research, led by experts at Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, was recently published in the journal Open Forum Infectious Diseases. The study marks one of the first successful attempts to detect TB DNA through aerosols, offering hope for millions of patients who struggle to produce sputum samples—a long-standing challenge in TB diagnosis.
A Step Forward in the Fight Against Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, an airborne infectious disease, remains one of the world’s leading causes of death from a single infectious agent. Despite being preventable and curable, the World Health Organization (WHO) reports that approximately 10.6 million people fell ill with TB in 2023, with 1.3 million deaths globally. The traditional diagnostic process often involves testing sputum—mucus coughed up from the lungs—for the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium responsible for the disease.
However, sputum-based testing poses significant challenges. Many TB patients, especially children and those in the early stages of infection, are unable to produce sputum. This leads to delayed diagnosis, prolonged transmission, and, in many cases, ineffective treatment outcomes.
The Promise of THOR: Detecting TB in Exhaled Air
To address these challenges, researchers at Karolinska Institutet explored whether DNA from the tuberculosis bacterium could be detected in the air exhaled by infected individuals. Their solution, TB Hotspot detectOR (THOR), collects aerosols using electrostatic sampling, allowing the team to capture particles expelled when patients breathe, cough, or talk.
The captured samples were then analyzed using Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra, the same molecular diagnostic test commonly used for sputum analysis. According to the study, the method successfully detected TB DNA in 47 percent of patients who had a positive sputum test result.
In cases where patients exhibited high bacterial loads in their sputum, the detection rate increased to 57 percent. The test’s specificity—its ability to correctly identify individuals without TB—stood at 77 percent, suggesting that while not yet perfect, the approach holds significant diagnostic potential.
Insights from the Researchers
Dr. Jay Achar, a leading researcher in the Department of Global Public Health at Karolinska Institutet, emphasized the innovation’s potential to revolutionize TB screening.
“It is promising that we can detect infectious tuberculosis directly in the air, especially in settings where sputum samples are difficult to obtain,” he said.
Dr. Achar added that the findings provide a foundation for future studies that could refine the technology, enhance sensitivity, and expand testing across diverse environments.
“This is a first step towards understanding how tuberculosis is transmitted and how we can identify infectious individuals earlier,” he stated.
Study Conducted in High-Burden Areas
The study was carried out at primary care clinics in South Africa, a country with one of the highest TB burdens in the world. A total of 137 adult participants diagnosed with tuberculosis were enrolled. Researchers observed that men with high bacterial levels in their sputum were more likely to have TB DNA detected in exhaled air, while patients presenting with fever had slightly lower detection rates.
These observations offer valuable insight into how TB spreads and which patient groups are most likely to emit infectious aerosols. By improving detection from breath rather than sputum, the device could help identify “super-spreaders”—patients who unknowingly transmit TB to others.
The Science Behind Aerosol Detection
The principle behind THOR lies in aerosol-based molecular detection. When individuals with TB exhale, microscopic droplets containing bacterial DNA can be released into the surrounding air. Electrostatic collectors like THOR can attract and trap these particles for analysis.
This non-invasive approach represents a paradigm shift in TB diagnostics, reducing dependency on invasive methods and providing a safer, faster, and potentially more scalable solution for healthcare workers in low-resource settings.
Dr. Sara Olsson, a co-author of the study, noted that the technology could also aid in understanding the dynamics of TB transmission.
“Detecting TB DNA in the air could help us pinpoint where and how transmission occurs most frequently—homes, clinics, or community spaces—and implement targeted prevention strategies,” she explained.
Global Health Implications
If further validated in large-scale trials, THOR could become a vital tool in global TB elimination efforts, aligning with the WHO’s End TB Strategy, which aims to reduce TB deaths by 90% and cases by 80% by 2035. The device could also be particularly beneficial in resource-limited countries, where TB testing infrastructure is limited, and sputum analysis is difficult to carry out efficiently.
The method could support mass screening programs, identify infectious individuals earlier, and prevent community spread—especially in high-density populations and healthcare facilities.
A New Chapter in Non-Invasive Diagnostics
Experts believe that aerosol-based diagnostics could eventually extend beyond TB. The same principle may be applicable for detecting other airborne pathogens, such as influenza, COVID-19, and even emerging respiratory diseases. This could herald a new era of non-invasive infectious disease detection, transforming how outbreaks are monitored and managed.
The research team plans to improve THOR’s efficiency, enhance detection sensitivity, and evaluate its practicality for field deployment. Clinical validation in different regions, including Asia and Africa, will be crucial to determine how the technology performs under real-world conditions.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the encouraging results, researchers acknowledge that THOR is still in the experimental phase. The current detection rate of 47–57% suggests that additional optimization is required before it can replace or complement sputum-based testing.
Moreover, environmental factors—such as air humidity, ventilation, and patient behavior—can affect the concentration of detectable TB DNA in aerosols. Future studies will need to establish standardized collection methods and thresholds to ensure consistent accuracy.
Final Thoughts from TheTrendingPeople.com
The development of the TB Hotspot detectOR (THOR) device represents a promising leap forward in tuberculosis diagnostics. By capturing and analyzing DNA from exhaled air, this innovative method could reshape global TB control strategies, making testing simpler, faster, and more accessible—especially in underserved regions.
While more research is needed before widespread use, the early findings suggest that breath-based testing could soon become a key component in detecting and stopping the spread of airborne diseases like tuberculosis. As the world continues its battle against infectious diseases, innovations like THOR signal that science is breathing new life into the fight against TB.