Detecting Tuberculosis

A TB detection rat can check 100 sputum samples for TB in as little as 20 minutes. This would typically take a lab technician up to 4 days using conventional microscopy.

WHY TUBERCULOSIS

Tuberculosis is the biggest global killer from an infectious disease after COVID-19. There were approximately 10.6 million new global cases of tuberculosis per year and around 1.3 million people died from the disease in 2022. In most sub-Saharan African countries only about half of the patients with active tuberculosis are diagnosed.

HOW WE'RE DETECTING TUBERCULOSIS

APOPO researches TB detection rats as a “failsafe” - examining clinic-tested human sputum samples delivered from partner clinics in Tanzania and Ethiopia. Any rat-suspect samples are rechecked using internationally recognized methods and if TB is confirmed, APOPO notifies the clinic. Our research indicates that APOPO is improving clinic detection rates by 40%.

Abdul Ramadhani

Abdul struggled with his disease not knowing what was making him ill, until APOPO found he...

Claudi

6 year old Claudi was very sick but his local clinic couldn’t detect the cause...

STORIES: CHARYA

"When I was playing in my fathers fields I climbed a tree to hide from my brother. When I ...

Staff story: Abu Chinarine

Abu Chinarine was an APOPO deminer. He risked his life every day to help rid his community...

TB DETECTION RESEARCH - WHERE WE WORK

APOPO works within government health systems. APOPO’s TB research programs aim to support national DOTS centers in their fight against tuberculosis.

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Mozambique

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