The Problem
Tuberculosis remains a leading global health challenge, but sputum testing—the current diagnostic standard—is difficult for many patients, especially children and people living with HIV.
Research
Using Tongue Swabs to Diagnose Tuberculosis
Matthew Glucksberg and Sally McFall are driving Northwestern’s TB diagnostic innovation
Our Idea
Researchers are developing tongue swab testing, supported by a new swab capture device, to enable easier, non-invasive, and scalable TB diagnosis.
Why It Matters
Tongue swab testing could simplify diagnosis, expand access to care, and reduce TB transmission worldwide, transforming the fight against the disease.
Our Team
Professor Matthew Glucksberg; Sally McFall, Co-Director of the Center for Innovation in Global Health Technologies
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 10 million people become ill with tuberculosis (TB) every year. In South Africa and other countries with high burden of TB, a team from the Center for Innovation in Global Health Technologies (CIGHT) has supported the development of a new process to use tongue swabs for easier TB diagnosis. The team has collaborated on this process to lead it from early evaluations of the technology to consideration by the WHO.
Because TB is both preventable and curable, detection is key to high success rates. With the proper use of a simple tongue swab, the team hopes to save lives and prevent disease.
Working on the project are team members from the CIGHT, the Center for Innovation in Point-of-Care Technologies for HIV/AIDS and Emerging Infectious Diseases at Northwestern University (C-THAN), University of Washington, Stellenbosch University, University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg (Wits University), University of Cape Town, and Northwestern University students from the Department of Biomedical Engineering.
CIGHT team members include Matthew Glucksberg, and Sally McFall, co-directors, and Chad Achenbach, associate director of the Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health and associate professor of Medicine in the Division of Infectious Diseases and Department of Preventive Medicine.
Click here to read more on the Robert J. Havey, MD Institute for Global Health’s website >>