Molecular diagnostics company Molbio Diagnostics, having received approval from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and validation from the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to expand its multi-drug resistant TB testing portfolio, is now planning to make it available at the existing 3,300 PHCs/CHCs across the country. Multi-drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-TB) has become a serious public health issue. Molbio’s Truenat platform that detects TB and Rifampicin resistance has now launched the MTB-INH test for detecting Isoniazid resistance which has become a growing challenge in treating the disease. However, the growing occurrence of Isoniazid mono-resistance is posing a major challenge to the treatment of Rifampicin Susceptible Isoniazid resistant (Hr-TB) patients who often end up with treatment failure, relapse and develop further drug resistance. As per the National Strategic Plan (NSP) 2017-2025 for TB eradication, the Government of India has taken a policy decision to decentralise and democratise access to advanced rapid molecular diagnostics for TB by introducing Truenat® in every block of the country, as a replacement to the currently used smear microscopy.
Commenting on the launch, CEO, founder, and director of Molbio Diagnostics Sriram Natarajan said, “The current launch of Truenat MTB-INH further strengthens Molbio’s product portfolio of providing complete testing solutions through the Truenat platform. Once introduced in all the blocks, every TB patient will have access to MDR TB testing at the same TB testing centre with reporting on the same day so correct treatment can also begin on the same day thus enabling better treatment outcomes and bringing down the disease spread.”
CTO and director of Molbio Diagnostics Dr. Chandrasekhar Nair added, “Molecular methods such as Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) or Real-Time PCR are revolutionising disease diagnosis and management and Truenat has been a game changer in this regard as a point of care molecular platform that offers over 40 tests right at the point of need. The launch of the Truenat® MTB INH test is another milestone in our TB portfolio.” Truenat MTB-INH is also expected to play a major role internationally, in high TB-burden countries as well as countries that already have a policy in place for INH testing on all TB-positive samples. It is also expected to add to the arsenal of tests to combat the disease and strengthen the country’s aim to eliminate TB by 2025.
