Aakash Hassan
Islamabad
For faster detection of tuberculosis (TB) cases, the Tuberculosis Hospital Islamabad has been equipped with cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification testing (CBNAAT) machine which can detect the presence of TB bacteria in a span of two to three hours while the conventional methods of testing for the disease take anywhere between a week and one and a half months.
Additionally, CBNAAT, which works by testing sputum of people suspected of TB, will also help in detection of drug-resistant tuberculosis (DRTB).
“Earlier we used to diagnose TB by testing saliva. In that case many of the cases were not identified due to culture positive saliva. This high tech machine has least chances of missing any case,” said Dr Ashfaq Hassan, District Tuberculosis Officer Anantnag.
This has revolutionized TB diagnosis worldwide and now we are getting access to this sort of facility that is not available privately anywhere, said a senior medical official.
Earlier the machines were available in Srinagar and Jammu only.
