A new diagnostic device that will help fight the spread of tuberculosis (TB) in theNorthhasbeenunveiled.Theportable and automated device, Xpert MTB/RIF has recently been approved by Health Canada to diagnose TB. It can identify TB and also drug resistant TB from a sputum sample in only 90 minutes, which is much faster than current laboratory methods. The technology is based on a new molecular method that identifies the TB bacteria’s specific DNA in the sample and is thought to be more accurate and specific than current diagnostic methods.
