Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 17: Diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) could soon become significantly easier and more accessible, thanks to a new tongue swab test developed using advanced CRISPR technology. This innovation, pioneered by researchers at Tulane University, could mark a major shift from the current sputum-based testing methods that are often difficult to administer—especially in low-resource and remote settings.

Led by Dr. Zhen Huang, assistant professor at Tulane School of Medicine, the team has created a test known as ActCRISPR-TB, which uses enhanced genetic amplification to detect even tiny traces of TB DNA in samples such as stool, spinal fluid, and tongue swabs.

"Tongue swabs are painless, simple to collect, and don’t require trained personnel," said Dr. Huang. "This makes it possible to screen large populations, even in rural or underserved areas."

Traditional TB testing depends on sputum—mucus from the lungs—which can be hard to collect, especially from children, HIV patients, or those with non-respiratory TB. In fact, sputum collection is impossible in nearly 25% of symptomatic and up to 90% of asymptomatic TB cases, contributing to the underdiagnosis of an estimated 4 million people each year.

The newly published study in Nature Communications demonstrates that the CRISPR-based test outperformed conventional methods, detecting TB in 74% of tongue swab samples compared to 56% by traditional means. It also showed high sensitivity with respiratory samples (93%), pediatric stool (83%), and adult spinal fluid (93%).

Crucially, the test delivers results in under an hour, making it ideal for quick deployment in field settings.

With the global burden of TB still high, especially in developing countries, this breakthrough could become a game-changer in early detection and treatment—bringing hope to millions who currently fall through the diagnostic cracks.