When most of us think of breathalyzer tests, we picture flashing lights, police officers, and stern discussions of how fast we were driving (…or is that just me?).
But of course inhalation technology is good for much more than testing blood alcohol levels.
One researcher at the University of New Mexico has created a test that can help diagnose tuberculosis, and could potentially be used in diagnosing cystic fibrosis (CF).
Writing in Cystic Fibrosis News Today, Carolina Henriquesby introduces us to Dr. Graham Timmins, who has patented several other diagnostic tools; his research has focused on timely detection of lung diseases and bacteria.
The TB test works by looking for signs of urease, a bacterial enzyme found in many serious lung conditions.
- Patients inhale a special compound with a nebulizer or inhaler;
- the compound includes a special “tracer” that highlights areas with urease,
- which are detected and measured with a portable laser spectrometer.
The big advantage this tool offers over other tests is its portability and speed—results can return in minutes versus hours. That could be huge for patients in poor areas and underdeveloped countries where TB is common and access to medical care is impractical or non-existent.
And now that the urease test has been shown to work for TB, Dr. Timmins is looking at how well it works for CF and other lung conditions.
Currently, Dr. Timmins is working with Avisa, a company founded to run clinical trials based on his work. While they’re initially focusing on getting approval for TB, some of their early work has shown promise in patients who have CF.
While specific trials for CF and other lung diseases are still a ways off, Dr. Timmins is hopeful that his tech will open new doors to both faster detection and better treatment. We’ll breathe to that!
Learn more about Dr. Timmins and his work here, and check out Cystic Fibrosis News Today to learn about all the latest developments in CF research.
