To develop a semi-automated method for the detection of tubercle bacilli in sputum samples. Interesting Facts about Tuberculosis.
Tuberculosis is currently the world's leading cause of adult death for a single infectious disease.
The ability to proactively screen vulnerable segments of the population would be one of the main benefits of automation. More rapid distinction between multidrug resistant and non resistant strains by machine determination of bacilli densities and the time elapsed since treatment. Whether this is feasible is currently under investigation. Tuberculosis is predominantly a public health problem in developing countries. Though the volumes of slides might justify automation is some instances, the method is expected to be too expensive for use in low income countries.