Lipoarabinomannan (LAM) is a component of the cell wall shed by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tests based on the detection of LAM in urine have emerged as potential point-of-care tests for TB. Urine-based testing would have advantages over sputum-based testing because urine is easy to collect and store, and lacks the infection control risks associated with sputum collection.1
Earlier the test methods were able to detect LAM only in the urine of patients who were HIV positive and had active tuberculosis. But, researchers have been able to develop newer method that can detect LAM in urine of patients who are negative for HIV test as well.2
This new test will hopefully be available in India soon.
- The use of lateral flow urine lipoarabinomannan assay (LF-LAM) for the diagnosis and screening of active tuberculosis in people living with HIV; Policy Update by WHO; Accessible at https://www.who.int/tb/publications/use-of-lf-lam-tb-hiv/en/↩
- Urine lipoarabinomannan glycan in HIV-negative patients with pulmonary tuberculosis correlates with disease severity; https://stm.sciencemag.org/content/9/420/eaal2807↩