TB Breath Test Proposal
20.109 WF Pink Team Research Proposal
TB Breath Test
Project Overview: Developing a novel biosensor device to diagnose Tuberculosis infection quickly and efficiently
Background
Disease background
-Tuberculosis is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis
-can be fatal
-usually affects the lungs, but can also affect brain, kidneys, spine
-symptoms include weight loss, night sweats, fever, chills, coughing (blood), chest pain
-latent vs active infection
-becomes active if immune system cannot repress growth
-5-10% of latent cases will become active
-2 widely used current tests:
-Mantoux TB skin test injects a small amount of tuberculin into the skin
-patient must return to clinic 48/72 hours later for evaluation of injection site
-TB blood test (interferon-gamma release assay) measures immune system reaction to TB bacteria
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