The company "Expert Laboratory Technologies" (ELTECH) has launched the production of the first Russian test for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in the Dubna special economic zone near Moscow. It will be able to replace the traditional Mantoux test.
The production line capacity is 300 thousand tests per year. Investments in the project are estimated at 70 million rubles. According to the head of ELTECH, Viktor Manuilov, the test detects infection using the interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA test), which is why it was named "IGRA-TB".
If a person is infected with the tuberculosis mycobacterium, then there are lymphocytes in his blood that are already "trained" to recognize the antigens of this pathogen
The stimulator recognizes the presence of these lymphocytes, and they react to it by producing gamma-interferon. An increase in the level of interferon indicates tuberculosis, the head of the company explained.
It is specified that the development of "IGRA-TB" took about 5 years. The test has passed all toxicological and clinical trials, confirming its safety. Roszdravnadzor issued the company a corresponding registration certificate. Now the test can be used in dispensaries, private laboratories and state phthisiatric centers.
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