A research team from Tezpur University has developed a cost-effective, portable device for detecting tuberculosis (TB) using a smartphone. Designed for use in rural and remote areas, the device aims to improve early diagnosis where medical infrastructure is limited.
The innovation, led by Prof Pabitra Nath from the Department of Physics, operates without chemicals or dyes and uses the natural glow—autofluorescence—of TB bacteria to identify infection. The built-in heating system enhances detection accuracy, and the entire unit weighs under 300 grams and costs less than Rs 25,000.
India continues to face a significant burden of TB, and early detection is essential for controlling the disease. The World Health Organization and India’s National TB Elimination Program currently recommend LED fluorescence microscopy as the standard method for TB screening. However, this approach relies on expensive equipment, chemical staining, and trained personnel, which are often unavailable in rural settings.
Prof Nath explained that the new device overcomes these limitations by detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis cells through their natural fluorescence, which is boosted using a heating element within the sensor. This eliminates the need for chemical stains and extensive lab infrastructure.
The research team includes Biprav Chetry and Chunuranjan Dutta from the Department of Physics; Dr J. P. Saikia and Mr Santanu Goswami from the Department of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology; and Mr Abhijit Gogoi from Labdig Innovations and Systems Pvt. Ltd.
The team has filed for a patent (Indian Patent Application No. 202431035472), and their findings were published in Biosensors and Bioelectronics. The Vice Chancellor of Tezpur University, Prof Shambhu Nath Singh, said the development could significantly aid TB control efforts in underserved regions.
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