‘Lab on Chip’ promises faster, more accurate TB detection
Medical electronics firm Veredus Laboratories has launched a new molecular diagnostic chip capable of quickly and accurately detecting tuberculosis.
While conventional methods of detecting the disease can take up to eight weeks, the new 'Lab on Chip' uses technology from STMicroelectronics to complete the diagnosis and identify the specific mycobacterium causing the infection in less than three hours.
"In 2011, 8.7million people were diagnosed with TB and 1.4m people died from the disease," said Veredus ceo Dr Rosemary Tan. "We believe VereMTB fulfills a crucial need in the timely diagnosis of TB and its multi drug resistance, thus ensuring proper treatment."
The VereMTB chip has been clinically tested in five countries across Europe, Asia and Africa. It is now undergoing further evaluations in China.
