KGMU to diagnose TB using 'TrueNat' machine

Lucknow: Respiratory medicine department at King George’s Medical University (KGMU) has started ‘TrueNat’ testing for the diagnosis of tuberculosis under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP).Officials said the machine, provided with CSR support from ONGC, has been installed at the DOTS centre and will allow TB testing within the department itself, bringing relief to patients.They said the machine would enable rapid and accurate diagnosis, with reports available on the same day, helping timely treatment of MDR-TB and severe TB cases.Until now, sputum samples had to be sent to the microbiology department, which handles samples from several districts and remains under heavy workload.KGMU vice-chancellor, Dr Sonia Nityanand, congratulated the department and said the facility would benefit patients suffering from TB and drug-resistant TB.