The rapid and selective detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by field deployable thermochemolysis-gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry. (360G-Wellcome-083597_Z_07_A)

Globally, tuberculosis (TB) is a problem of staggering proportions. In 2003, 8.8 million new cases resulted in 1.7 million deaths -- 98% occurring in the developing world. In 2006, a WHO report acknowledged the inadequacies of the available diagnostic tools and that without innovation the TB epidemic would not be contained. A pathfinder study has shown that different culture isolates of the mycobacteria complex can be differentiated, based on the pattern of fatty acids present. The thermochemolysis-gas chromatograph-mass spectrometry technique employed in the study has the potential to be a rapid, selective and sensitive on-line procedure for the detection of TB. The Beagle2 and Rosetta space missions, and the existing Wellcome Trust grant, have resulted in small, robust and deployable mass spectrometer (MS) systems that have the potential to be mass produced at reasonable cost and used by non-experts in the field.