Experts look to India to develop accurate, affordable TB diagnostics

SciDev.Net examines tuberculosis (TB) in India, which has the world's highest TB burden, and some experts' hopes that researchers in the country can develop accurate and affordable diagnostic test kits. "The recognition that no new anti-TB vaccine is expected before 2015 has prompted experts to pin their hopes on improving diagnosis," the news service writes. "One cause for worry in India is a plateau in the number of new cases being detected at 87 percent of actual infections, over the past five years," and another is the "slow rate of decline of the disease in India," SciDev.Net notes, adding, "Despite the drawbacks, global experts at [a recent TB] conference were optimistic that Indian diagnostic companies would soon form a world hub for high-quality generic diagnostics" (Padma, 11/3).