Based Biosensor Detects Tuberculosis via ESAT

Researchers find that quantifying the ESAT-6 protein in blood can differentiate active infection from latent cases and other lung diseases. A new study presented at the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (ADLM) 2026 meeting suggests that a blood test can accurately identify tuberculosis (TB) among patients with varying degrees of exposure. The method uses a high-sensitivity biosensor to detect a specific bacterial marker, potentially offering a diagnostic alternative for patients who cannot provide sputum. Tuberculosis is typically diagnosed by assessing samples of a patient's sputum, which are mucus secretions coughed up from the lungs and airways. However, many patients, especially those in the early stages of the disease or with a low bacterial burden, are unable to produce these samples.