Long a dream, it's now real: a fast and accurate TB test that doesn't need phlegm - NPR

Scientists have developed a long-sought tuberculosis test that is fast and accurate without requiring sputum, using alternative sample types to diagnose TB. The test could greatly improve detection for children and people who cannot produce phlegm, speeding treatment and reducing missed cases. This advance follows a broader trend of less-invasive, easier-to-collect diagnostics — seen in menstrual blood and dementia blood tests — but its impact will depend on laboratory capacity and rollout systems highlighted by recent pauses in public health testing.