National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme includes Serum-4 Cy-TB test

Pune: The Cy-TB test developed by Serum-Mylab has been integrated into the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP). This test has the capability to identify latent TB infections prior to their development into active diseases.

Serum-Mylab's Cy-TB Test, a rapid and precise diagnostic tool, signifies a improvement in the diagnosis of latent TB. It amalgamates the cost-effectiveness and simplicity of a skin test with the accuracy of the traditional but high-cost lab-based test known as the interferon gamma release assay (IGRA). This test can be administered in field settings without the need for any laboratory infrastructure. Notably, it remains unaffected by an individual's BCG vaccination status, addressing a major concern among the Indian population, where nearly everyone receives a BCG vaccination.

"We are honoured to contribute to our Prime Minister’s visionary initiative to eradicate TB. The availability of Cy-TB on the Ni-kshay platform represents a milestone in India's fight against TB. Cy-TB provides a rapid and reliable tool for latent TB diagnosis, ensuring swift and accurate identification of affected individuals who can then receive the necessary care without delay,” said Dr Umesh Shaligram, Executive Director - R&D, Serum Institute of India.

Hasmukh Rawal, MD & Co-founder, Mylab Discovery Solutions, highlighted, “The reservoir of latent TB infection (LTBI) poses a significant barrier to TB control and elimination. To achieve our TB elimination target, it is crucial to test and treat LTBI. The Cy-TB Test exemplifies our unwavering dedication to global TB eradication."

The inclusion of Cy-TB in the NTEP underscores its precision and dependability. By integrating Cy-TB into the Ni-kshay platform, healthcare professionals, diagnostic centers, and laboratories can conveniently submit Cy-TB test results, ensuring the timely detection of Latent TB cases and the initiation of appropriate treatment.

India shoulders a significant burden of TB cases, making efforts to eradicate this disease a top priority. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), approximately one-fourth of the global population is believed to be infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis, with an average of 5-10 per cent of those infections progressing to active TB disease during their lifetime. India accounts for 27 per cent of the worldwide TB burden, with an estimated 35-50 crore people in India having TB infection and over 26 lakh people developing TB annually. Furthermore, the prevalence rate of latent tuberculosis is alarmingly high, affecting around 30 to 40 per cent of the population. Various studies suggest that a higher prevalence of LTBI would lead to an increased incidence and mortality rate of TB.