Overview

• The handheld sensor integrates autofluorescence detection, a built-in heating element and smartphone compatibility to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis without chemical stains.
• Weighing under 300 grams and costing less than Rs 25,000 the device is designed for point-of-care use in settings lacking laboratory infrastructure.
• This stain-free approach offers a low-cost alternative to WHO-recommended LED fluorescence microscopy that depends on expensive equipment and reagents.
• The research team has filed a patent for the device and published peer-reviewed findings in the journal Biosensors and Bioelectronics.
• Tezpur University researchers are preparing field trials in rural India to validate performance and expand early TB screening access.