Phage Based Diagnostics

01359 231856

Twitter Youtube Linkedin Envelope
  • Home
  • About
    • About PBD Biotech
    • Industry Awards
    • Management Team
    • International
  • Actiphage
    • About Actiphage
    • Benefits of Actiphage
    • Rapid detection of mycobacterial disease
  • Bovine
    • Bovine TB
    • Johne’s Disease
  • Latest
    • Articles
    • Events
  • Case Studies
  • Research
  • Contact
    • Product Order Form
    • Contacting us
Menu
  • Home
  • About
    • About PBD Biotech
    • Industry Awards
    • Management Team
    • International
  • Actiphage
    • About Actiphage
    • Benefits of Actiphage
    • Rapid detection of mycobacterial disease
  • Bovine
    • Bovine TB
    • Johne’s Disease
  • Latest
    • Articles
    • Events
  • Case Studies
  • Research
  • Contact
    • Product Order Form
    • Contacting us
Search
Generic filters

New Actiphage test enters human TB trials

A new blood test for tuberculosis (TB) could, for the first time, enable screening of patients at an early stage of infection.
  • March 6, 2019
  • Human health
Blood test

The simple Actiphage® blood test is being investigated in a clinical trial by researchers from the University of Leicester and PBD Biotech – with results due to be announced later this year.

Despite recent reductions, the UK has one of the highest rates of TB in Western Europe. While TB cases have been declining overall in the UK, the rate of TB in some of the most deprived areas remains more than 7 times higher than in the least deprived*.

TB is a serious bacterial infection, which can be life threatening if not properly treated with antibiotics. Pulmonary TB of the lungs or throat is contagious, but TB can affect any part of the body.

One of the biggest challenges in human TB is rapid early diagnosis.

No blood tests currently exist to help with TB diagnosis. Traditional tests rely on sputum to detect the infection, but almost half of all people with pulmonary TB are unable to produce sputum, particularly in early disease. This contributes to delays in diagnosis and starting treatment, and promotes transmission within communities.

Actiphage, developed by PBD Biotech, is an alternative to bacterial culture. The test’s underlying biotechnology was originally used for the detection of human TB – under the FastPlaque brand – but was only suitable for use on sputum. Now the phage-based diagnostic has been optimised, so it can detect the presence of the mycobacteria in blood in just six hours. This means it may help to improve the speed and reliability of diagnosis for TB patients, and avoid the need for some patients to have more invasive tests performed.

The clinical trial of the new Actiphage test will involve a cohort of patients with both latent and active TB at Leicester’s Hospitals.

Dr Pranab Haldar from the University of Leicester, one of UK’s leading TB research groups, is the lead clinician on the trial and commented, “Many think of TB as a disease of the past and yet it is continuing to affect people, particularly in vulnerable communities across the country.

“Despite having a modern and well-equipped NHS, a third of patients still wait more than three months after symptoms begin to have a diagnosis made and treatment started. Through this trial we are keen to explore the potential of Actiphage to provide better insights into M. tuberculosis infection and determine how the test can support and contribute to tackling this public health problem in the UK as well as internationally.”

PBD Biotech CEO, Dr Berwyn Clarke, said, “Actiphage is the first sensitive, specific and speedy blood test for Mycobacteria. Its effectiveness has been proven in TB trials with other species, so it is an incredibly exciting opportunity to be working with one of the world’s leading human TB research groups to investigate its potential as a transformational tool in human health.”

Clinical trial findings will be announced at the American Thoracic Society (ATS) International Conference, Dallas, in May 2019.

REFERENCES

* The UK is in the lowest quartile for high-rate of TB incidences in Western Europe, according to the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global tuberculosis report 2018, pages 245-248

** UK-wide TB statistics

  • Latest TB figures for England (2018)
  • Latest TB figures for Scotland (2018)
  • Latest TB figures for Wales (2018), including reference to Northern Ireland figures
Share:

Related posts

Loading...
Actiphage use as a DIVA test

Actiphage optimised to detect MAP in humans and to support use as ‘DIVA’

June 1, 2022
This is the first time Actiphage has been used to detect MAP in a human blood sample and also to identify a live infection in a vaccinated goat.
Actiphage use as a DIVA test

Actiphage optimised to detect MAP in humans and to support use as ‘DIVA’

June 1, 2022
This is the first time Actiphage has been used to detect MAP in a human blood sample and also to...
cow

Why breakthrough human trials of Actiphage are good news for farmers

May 12, 2022
The findings are a real breakthrough for animal diagnosis as it provides clinical evidence that detection of low levels of mycobacteria in the blood is an indication that the animal is infected and has the potential to develop disease.
cow

Why breakthrough human trials of Actiphage are good news for farmers

May 12, 2022
The findings are a real breakthrough for animal diagnosis as it provides clinical evidence that detection of low levels of...
ECCMID

Actiphage® TB diagnostic finds live mycobacterium tuberculosis in the blood of people with incipient TB

April 23, 2022
A clinical trial of Actiphage, a promising new diagnostic for tuberculosis infection, has shown for the first time that live bacteria can be detected in the blood of people with incipient TB infection.
ECCMID

Actiphage® TB diagnostic finds live mycobacterium tuberculosis in the blood of people with incipient TB

April 23, 2022
A clinical trial of Actiphage, a promising new diagnostic for tuberculosis infection, has shown for the first time that live...
rapid TB test World TB Day - Zambart image

Could Actiphage provide rapid TB test in sub-Saharan Africa?

March 23, 2022
Sub-Saharan Africa is devastated by TB disease. Zambia, has a high TB/HIV burden – 59,000 people developed TB in 2020 and 15,000 died. There is a critical need for a non-sputum based rapid test for diagnosing TB disease.
rapid TB test World TB Day - Zambart image

Could Actiphage provide rapid TB test in sub-Saharan Africa?

March 23, 2022
Sub-Saharan Africa is devastated by TB disease. Zambia, has a high TB/HIV burden – 59,000 people developed TB in 2020...
1 2 Next »

developers of phage-based diagnostics

Contact Us

PBD Biotech Ltd
Link House, Elm Farm Park,
Great Green, Thurston,
Suffolk IP31 3SH,
United Kingdom

Registered Company Address
Ingenuity Centre,
University of Nottingham,
Innovation Park, Triumph Rd,
Nottingham NG7 2TU,
United Kingdom

T: 01359 231856
info@pbdbio.com

Privacy and cookies policy

© 2022 PBD Biotech Ltd

design: out of house

  • Follow Us!
PBD Biotech

If you are going @CheshireShow there is an opportunity to talk to @ZaraBewizibet senior scientific adviser to Defra TB Policy. She is on the Cheshire Badger Vaccination Project @CBVP2021 stand. Good to see some joined up thinking #BadgerTrust #EndTB

Read More
PBD Biotech

@PeterMullowney Thank you @PeterMullowney for a very productive conference with many inspiring presentations. So good to see everyone @paratb2022

Read More
PBD Biotech

@1GarethWynJones @downtoearthuk_ @clovermad Mum always knows best 😉 Well done @clovermad for hosting.

Read More