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QT BIO in Action: Making a Difference in TB Prevention and Control

Tuberculosis (TB)

Image source: WHO World TB Day 2026

24 March, 2026 is the 31st World TB Day with a theme of “Yes! We can end TB! Led by countries. Powered by people.”

What is tuberculosis?

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious disease usually caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) bacteria. TB primarily affects the lungs, but can also affect other organs, such as the kidneys, spine, or brain. Most infections show no symptoms, in which case it is known as latent TB infection (LTBI). However, latent infections can progress to active disease that, if left untreated, can be fatal. Typical symptoms of active TB are chronic cough with blood-containing mucus, fever, night sweats, and weight loss.

The transmission of TB

TB spreads through the air when people with active pulmonary TB cough, sneeze, speak, or sing, releasing droplet nuclei containing the bacteria. People in close proximity can breathe in these droplets and become infected. The droplets can remain airborne and infective for several hours, and are more likely to persist in poorly ventilated areas.

TB burden

According to WHO’s Global tuberculosis report 2025, TB remains the leading cause of death from a single infectious agent and among the top 10 causes of death worldwide. It was also the leading killer of people with HIV and a major cause of death related to antimicrobial resistance. In 2024, an estimated 10.7 million people fell ill with TB worldwide, with people living with HIV accounting for 5.8% of the total. Globally in 2024, TB caused approximately 1.23 million deaths, including 150 000 people with HIV, compared with 1.25 million in 2023.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Estimated TB incidence rates, 2024

Image source: WHO Global tuberculosis report 2025

TB care and treatment

Globally in 2024, 8.3 million people were reported as newly diagnosed with TB – a small increase from 8.2 million in 2023 – representing 78% of the estimated number of incident cases. An estimated 390 000 people developed multidrug-resistant or rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB) in 2024, with 164 545 people treated for rifampicin-resistant TB (RR-TB). The treatment success rate for drug-susceptible TB remains high, at 88%, and has improved to 71% for RR-TB (data from WHO).

TB diagnostics

WHO recommends using rapid molecular diagnostic tests for TB diagnosis and considers them the main components of TB laboratory-strengthening efforts under the End TB Strategy. However, the use of rapid diagnostic tests remains far too limited. Only 54% of the 8.3 million people newly diagnosed with TB in 2024 used rapid molecular tests as the initial diagnostic test.

Challenges in molecular detection of TB

Despite significant progress in molecular diagnostics, several challenges remain in the widespread adoption of TB detection technologies:

 

Ultra-high sensitivity: Detecting low bacterial loads requires assays with exceptional sensitivity.

Asymptomatic screening: Developing products capable of identifying latent or early-stage infections remains a technical hurdle.

Accessible sample types: Tongue swabs and other non-sputum samples offer promise but require robust, validated workflows.

Decentralized testing: To reach the general population, solutions must be adapted for community hospitals and primary care settings with limited infrastructure.

QT BIO’s solution

The core of QT BIO’s solution is the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Detection Kit which utilizes RAA isothermal technology. It requires no laboratory environment or professional expertise, and delivers results within 30 minutes. The advantages of this kit include:

 

Efficient amplification: Results in 30 minutes at 39°C.

Accurate detection: High sensitivity (10 copies/test), strong specificity, enabling rapid detection of early infections.

On-site testing: No laboratory environment needed, can be performed anytime, anywhere.

Simple operation: Easily mastered by non-professionals with minimal training.

 

Besides, QT BIO also offers compatible reagents and instruments for nucleic acid extraction and detection, which enable the rapid identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB)
Tuberculosis (TB)

QT BIO’s Mycobacterium tuberculosis Detection Kit and operation workflow