Recently, the Kerala health authorities have introduced a test called Cy-TB for detecting and treating tuberculosis (TB) infection following the prioritisation of latent TB infection treatment under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP).
About Cy-TB Test:
It is a new intradermal test for detecting and treating tuberculosis (TB) infection.
It is a third-generation test approved by the Central TB Division, Government of India.
It is the current recommendation for use of the Cy-tb skin test under the NTEP program for age 18 years and above.
How does it work?
Cy-TB is a highly specific, accurate and user-friendly skin test, wherein 0.1 ml doses of tuberculosis-specific antigens (ESAT-6 and CFP-10) are injected into the skin in the inner forearm.
An induration (a raised area) of 5 mm or more which develops on the skin within 48-72 hours indicates TB infection.
What is TB?
TB is caused by bacteria (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) and it most often affects the lungs. TB is spread through the air when people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit. A person needs to inhale only a few germs to become infected.
According to the World Health Organization’s Global Tuberculosis Report 2024, India continues to lead in the global TB burden (26% of cases) and is also the hub for drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) and TB deaths.
TB is the leading cause of death of people with HIV and also a major contributor to antimicrobial resistance.
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