Early-stage tuberculosis detected by new blood test

A new study from the Taipei Veterans General Hospital in Taiwan has developed an accurate blood test capable of reliably diagnosing tuberculosis (TB), even in patients unable to produce sputum samples. The test focuses on measuring the level of the protein "ESAT-6," produced by the TB bacteria. Results show that the protein levels correlate gradually with disease progression, being lowest in uninfected individuals and very high in those with active TB. This test is considered effective in distinguishing between active and latent TB, outperforming traditional blood markers, thereby speeding up diagnosis and improving disease monitoring in cases where sputum collection is difficult. However, it does not replace sputum tests for confirming the diagnosis and assessing bacterial resistance. Despite these promising findings, further studies are needed to validate its effectiveness in clinical practice.

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