SA and Indonesia team up on massive asymptomatic TB study

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Focus, Healthcare system, Healthcare Workers, InFocus, KwaZulu-Natal, Latest, Provinces, Spotlight, TB, TB

Over the last decade, there’s been growing evidence that people can have TB without having any symptoms. But there is still much uncertainty over how such asymptomatic TB functions in the body and how infectious it is. An ambitious study, set to be conducted in South Africa and Indonesia, is trying to find some answers. Elri Voigt reports.

SA and Indonesia team up on massive asymptomatic TB study

Tongue swabs – Where might these experimental TB tests eventually fit in?

Posted in: Access to Medicines, Focus, Healthcare system, HIV/AIDS, InFocus, Latest, Spotlight, TB

While likely years away from widespread use, a test for TB that relies on a simple tongue swab instead of a person having to cough up sputum is showing promise. Elri Voigt takes stock of how the test works and asks experts what its future role might be.