![]() “However, these tests are very sensitive. “Health care practitioners determine TB exposure using a variety of tests including the immune response skin test,” said Dr. There weren’t enough places to get tested, enough radiologists to read the tests, and enough people to relay the results in a timely manner. Then waiting for the test results and treatment could take even longer. In Kenya, getting a TB test may involve a day or two of travel just to get to a testing site, possibly on a crowded bus with other passengers carrying the disease. With approximately half its population living in poverty, Kenya struggles to provide access to basic health care services and medical treatment to its citizens, especially those living in rural communities and the densely populated slums. Although TB is rare in the United States, it is the fourth leading cause of death in Kenya.ĭespite the geographic distance and the magnitude of the problem, NLM was in a unique position to make it less difficult for Kenyans to get diagnosed. ![]() People with compromised immune systems are particularly vulnerable to this airborne disease, and treating TB while avoiding complications of HIV treatment requires rapid test results. In a country with high rates of HIV/AIDS, detecting and treating tuberculosis or TB is crucial. This one did, plus global health is an NIH objective.” Known for his practical solutions to seemingly impossible problems, Antani said, “A lot of our work doesn’t directly translate into patient care. It took a stellar team, tenacity, a truck-and a little luck along the way.ĭriving the effort to make it possible for more Kenyans to get tested more quickly was computational imaging scientist Sameer Antani, PhD, of NLM’s Lister Hill National Center for Biomedical Communications. Now, it can often be done in minutes and more people can get tested, saving lives and keeping family members and friends from getting infected from this airborne disease. Getting screened for TB often involved two days of travel and lost wages for Kenyans.
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