On February 24th, APOPO TB Tanzania officially launched a new collaboration with Kibong’oto Infectious Disease Hospital in Moshi, marking an important step in expanding our tuberculosis (TB) detection efforts in the country. The launch event, officiated by Dr. Jairy Khanga, Regional Medical Officer (RMO) of Kilimanjaro, brought together key stakeholders, including hospital management, healthcare professionals specializing in TB detection and treatment, and laboratory teams from 10 newly designated clinics in the region.
Representing APOPO were Dr. Tefera Agizew, Head of TB, and Dr. Joseph Soka, Tanzania TB Program Manager, who presented APOPO’s innovative approach to TB detection and outlined plans for further expansion. This new collaboration signals the beginning of TB sample collection in the Kilimanjaro region, with Manyara, Arusha, and Tanga set to follow in the coming months. By strengthening TB detection in these areas, we aim to increase case identification rates and ensure that more people receive the timely diagnosis and treatment they need.
How APOPO’s TB Detection Program Works
APOPO has been working to support TB detection in Tanzania since 2007, using a combination of advanced laboratory screening and specially trained HeroRATs to improve case detection rates. While conventional TB diagnostic tools, such as smear microscopy and molecular tests, often fail to detect all cases, especially when the bacteria load is fewer, our trained rats serve as a cost-effective, second-line screening tool, rapidly identifying cases that would otherwise be missed.
The process begins with health clinics and hospitals sending sputum samples to APOPO’s TB detection centers. Each sample has already tested negative using standard diagnostic methods, but because up to 50% of TB cases can go undetected with traditional testing, APOPO provides a second layer of screening. The samples are then presented to our HeroRATs, which sniff each one in a controlled environment. If a rat detects the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, it signals by pausing at the sample for three seconds. The rat-positive samples are then sent for further laboratory confirmation using WHO-endorsed diagnostic tools such as concentrated Ziehl-Neelsen smear, light-emitting diode fluorescent microscopy or GeneXpert.
APOPO’s method dramatically increases TB case detection rates while saving time and resources. A single HeroRAT can screen 100 samples in just 20 minutes, whereas a laboratory technician using smear microscopy would take up to four days to process the same number. By reducing the number of samples that require expensive re-testing, APOPO’s approach improves efficiency and allows health systems to focus their resources where they are most needed.
APOPO’s TB Detection Programs
APOPO’s TB detection programs currently operate in Tanzania and Ethiopia, working closely with national health authorities to support existing TB control efforts.
- In Tanzania, APOPO tests samples from Dar es Salaam, Morogoro, Chalinze, Coast Region and Dodoma, with Kilimanjaro now being added to the program and Manyara, Arusha, and Tanga in the near future.
- In Ethiopia, APOPO collaborates with the Armauer Hansen Research Institute (AHRI) and Addis Ababa Health Bureau, strengthening TB detection efforts in the capital and surrounding areas.
In all locations, our goal remains the same: to enhance TB case detection, improve access to diagnosis and treatment, and reduce TB transmission rates. By identifying cases that would otherwise go undiagnosed, APOPO helps prevent the spread of TB and ensures that patients receive the care they need before their condition worsens.
Strengthening the Fight Against TB in Tanzania
The new collaboration with Kibong’oto Infectious Disease Hospital will play a key role in bridging diagnostic gaps in the northern Tanzania regions. By working closely with local hospitals, clinics, and laboratory teams, APOPO will ensure that TB detection becomes faster, more accurate, and more accessible to those who need it most.
As we move forward with sample collection in Kilimanjaro, we are actively preparing for further sample collection from Manyara, Arusha, and Tanga regions. With each new region that joins the program, we bring life-saving detection services closer to communities, particularly in rural and hard-to-reach areas where TB diagnosis is often delayed.
Through collaboration with national and regional health authorities, along with the continued support of our donors and partners, APOPO is making a tangible impact in the fight against TB. By scaling up our efforts, we are helping health systems detect more cases, reduce transmission, and ultimately save lives.
Help Us Detect More TB Cases
Every contribution helps APOPO expand its TB detection programs, ensuring that more people receive life-saving diagnoses and treatment. Donate today to support our mission.
