The use of a commercial loop-mediated isothermal amplification assay (‎TB-lamp)‎ for the detection of tuberculosis: expert group meeting report

Overview

Nucleic acid amplification offers major advantages of speed and sensitivity for pathogen detection, but until recently, no commercial versions of these systems were designed to be simple enough or inexpensive enough to implement in resource-limited countries. Recent research and development efforts have, however, led to the development of new molecular approaches which may change this paradigm.

TB-LAMP is a new manual TB detection method based on the novel loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) platform from Eiken Chemical Co. in Japan. TB-LAMP has several features that makes it attractive as a diagnostics platform for resource-poor settings: it is fast (15-40 min), isothermal (requiring only a heat block), robust to inhibitors and reaction conditions that usually adversely affect polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methods, and it generates a result that can be detected with the naked eye. Since 2005, FIND and Eiken have been collaborating to develop an assay for TB that could be implemented in place of microscopy to improve the accuracy of TB detection at microscopy centres and similar laboratories.