Molbio Diagnostics’ Truenat System Is Aiding in Transforming TB Diagnosis in Nigeria
Verna, India – 11 September 2024 – A recent study published in Public Health Action (Vol 14 No 3) showed the impact of the WHO-endorsed Truenat system on TB and Drug-Resistant TB (DR-TB) diagnosis in Nigeria, with implications for the global fight against TB. Developed and manufactured by India-based Molbio Diagnostics Pvt. Ltd. to aid in the diagnosis of TB and DR-TB in remote settings at the periphery, Truenat reduced turnaround time for TB and DR-TB diagnosis, increased the overall case detection rate, and fast-tracked treatment initiation, thereby cutting down the chain of transmission in the community.
Background:
Nigeria is a country with a high burden of TB and is among the ten countries that collectively account for 75% of the global missing TB cases and 70% of missing DR-TB cases. One key reason for the country’s low case detection rate has been limited access to rapid molecular testing facilities at the last mile periphery. To address this gap, Stop TB Partnership, in collaboration with USAID, installed 38 Truenat devices in Nigeria under its introducing New Tools Project (iNTP) that aimed to roll out a package of the latest innovations in diagnostics, treatments and digital health technologies to strengthen TB care in high burden countries.
The independent study analysed retrospective data from nine months prior and nine months during Truenat implementation in 34 of the country’s 38 facilities.
Key Findings of the Study:
1. Decreased Turnaround Time: The Truenat assays, which provide results within 60 minutes, have cut the turnaround time for TB diagnosis to under 24 hours for 57.9% of cases, 20.9% in 24 hours, 7.9% within 48 hours, and 5.2% within 72 hours, thereby enabling treatment providers to initiate treatment on time and reduce transmission.
2. Faster Treatment Initiation: The study demonstrated a median time to treatment initiation of just 1.5 days, way faster than prior periods. Nearly 57% of patients commenced treatment within 24 hours, and another 26.1% within 72 hours of diagnosis.
3. Increased TB Detection Rates: The deployment of Truenat led to an increase in the TB case detection rate, with the proportion of TB-positive cases rising from 1633 (8% of 20,424 tested) to 3338 (9% of 37,087 tested), an additional 1704 cases in the nine months following the system’s implementation. This highlights Truenat’s effectiveness in identifying previously missed cases.
4. Boost in DR-TB Detection: Notably, the detection of rifampicin-resistant TB (DR-TB) cases increased by 4.5 times post-implementation (from 7 to 32), indicating a significant advancement in addressing drug-resistant strains of TB, which are critical to managing and addressing the global TB crisis.
Sriram Natarajan, CEO of Molbio Diagnostics:
“The findings of this study reaffirm Molbio’s vision and commitment to take innovative solutions for timely diagnosis to the population at the last periphery. With Truenat as a multi-disease, last-mile solution, we want to play a crucial role in addressing diagnostics gaps in infectious diseases and improving public health outcomes, especially in resource-scarce settings of lower-middle-income countries”.
Nigeria is continuing to build its peripheral molecular diagnostic network and is installing more Truenat devices nationwide.
About Molbio Diagnostics Pvt Ltd:
Molbio Diagnostics Pvt Ltd, based in Verna, India, specialises in point-of-care testing solutions that promote a decentralised model of care. Truenat™ system is a multi-disease, portable, battery-operated molecular device that offers testing for TB, HIV, Hepatitis, Malaria, STIs, etc. WHO endorsed it for TB and drug-resistant TB testing.
