Tuberculosis (TB) infects more than 8 million people per year, making its swift diagnosis and treatment critical to prevent the spreading of the disease. Current diagnosis methods are often inaccurate and are time intensive, taking up to 8 weeks for a result. The inaccuracy and long diagnosis times of these methods create a risk for an infected person to spread the disease before receiving the proper treatment.

Detailed description of the solution

The self-administered adhesive plaster method relies on volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are emitted from infected cells and their surrounding microenvironment. These VOCs can be detected due to the changes they cause in the skin and through their exchange via the blood. Organic sensors that detect these changes placed in stable adhesive plasters can be put directly on the chest, making the diagnosis process less time consuming and potentially more accurate.

Designed by

• Designed by: Technion, Israel Institute of Technology (primary investigator Hossam Haick as of May 2012).
• Manufacturer (if different): n/a
• Manufacturer location: n/a

Funding Source

Received grant from Grand Challenges in Global Health as of May 2012.

References