Advancing TB Diagnostics: Pluslife's Commitment to Accessible Solutions
Bali, Indonesia, November 12-16, 2024—As the premier event in the field of tuberculosis (TB), the World Conference on Lung Health 2024 brings together thousands of experts from across the globe to address TB prevention, research, and innovative treatments. The event is particularly focused on the challenges faced by low—and middle-income populations in TB control.
During the conference, the Rapid Research in Diagnostics Development for TB Network (R2D2 TB Network) team announced a groundbreaking achievement in TB diagnostics. Pluslife’s TB detection product has surpassed the World Health Organization’s (WHO) stringent requirements for 'near POC non-sputum diagnostic' platforms.
1
Pluslife Platform Delivers Outstanding Performance
The research team recruited a group of suspected tuberculosis patients at health centers in Kampala, Uganda. Using cases positive for sputum samples on the Xpert Ultra platform as a reference, they conducted comparative testing of the Pluslife tuberculosis testing platform using tongue swab samples and sputum-dipped swab samples. The study results showed that the Pluslife testing platform effectively detects cases when Xpert Ultra results indicate high or medium concentrations. Moreover, it demonstrated excellent performance even at low or ultra-low concentrations.
2
Innovative and Convenient: Tongue Swab Samples for Enhanced Accessibility
Notably, Pluslife’s detection technology can also work with tongue swab samples in addition to sputum. This innovation provides a crucial solution for populations such as children and HIV patients who often face difficulties in providing sputum samples. With this new approach, TB detection is made more accessible, allowing for broader population coverage and meeting the demands of diverse clinical settings, including diagnostic and screening applications.
3
Independent Comparative Trials: Pluslife Shows Clear Advantages
These results confirm that, whether using sputum culture, smear microscopy, or the widely-used Xpert Ultra PCR test, Pluslife offers a reliable alternative, with significant advantages in user-friendliness, sensitivity, and specificity.
4
Pluslife’s TB Detection Technology Receives Widespread Recognition
At the conference, Pluslife’s TB detection product received strong endorsements from research teams across the globe. Its exceptional performance and simple operation—requiring only minutes for sample preparation and 5 to 25 minutes for amplification—make it ideal for decentralized applications. This product represents the world’s leading low-cost, rapid molecular POCT solution for TB, particularly suitable for resource-limited primary healthcare settings. Launching this innovative product represents an important step in TB prevention, contributing to the shift from 'treatment on demand' to 'active screening.' This progress supports the global goal of ending the TB epidemic by 2035. While it marks a noteworthy technological advancement, it also reflects a meaningful evolution in TB control strategies.
We extend our deepest gratitude to the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the R2D2 TB Network, and Global Health Labs for their invaluable support and collaboration. Their commitment to global health and TB innovation has been instrumental in enabling Pluslife to make this significant contribution to TB diagnosis and treatment. With their partnership, we are working together toward the goal of ending the TB epidemic by 2035.
About R2D2 TB Network
The R2D2 TB Network is a collaborative initiative focused on accelerating the development of tuberculosis (TB) diagnostics. Supported by the U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), it unites experts from fields like TB care, diagnostic technology, and health economics. The network works to identify, evaluate, and advance promising diagnostic technologies, coordinating clinical trials in TB-endemic countries. This collaboration is vital for improving diagnostic accuracy and helping to achieve the global goal of ending the TB epidemic by 2030.
