Blood test for TB diagnosis
Analysis based on 7 articles · First reported Jul 28, 2026 · Last updated Jul 28, 2026
If validated, this blood test could disrupt the TB diagnostics market by offering a faster, non-sputum alternative, potentially benefiting companies developing similar biosensors. However, the impact is limited as the test is still in early research stages and requires further validation.
A study presented at ADLM 2026 in Anaheim, California found that a blood test measuring the ESAT-6 protein can accurately identify active tuberculosis (TB) across varying exposure levels. The test uses a novel biosensor to quantify circulating ESAT-6, a bacterial marker, and showed stepwise concentration increases from uninfected contacts to latent TB to active disease. The study involved 217 participants and demonstrated better discrimination than two common blood-based markers. If validated in prospective studies, the test could provide a non-sputum diagnostic tool for early TB detection, potentially reducing transmission and saving lives. TB remains a leading infectious disease killer, with a quarter of the global population infected according to the World Health Organization.
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