The grant will fund the development of specific primers to identify 15 different SNPs in the TB genome that confer resistance to front line TB antibiotics. The drug sensitivity test will be added into the existing GeneSpark TB assay to create a panel that will include accurate diagnosis of TB along with comprehensive drug sensitivity information. The MDR-TB assay panel will run on a single disposable disk in the GeneSparkDx Instrument, a battery powered, portable, low cost, highly sensitive and simple to use molecular diagnostic platform.
GeneSpark Diagnostics Awarded a Phase I SBIR Grant from the NIH to Develop a Rapid Molecular Assay for Detection of Multiple Drug Resistant TB from Sputum