Infections from these bacteria are on the rise. New blood test cuts diagnosis time from months to hours

In a new study, Tulane University researchers have developed a CRISPR-based platform for diagnosing nontuberculous mycobacteria infections where blood testing can yield results in as little as two hours. The preliminary findings, published in the American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, showed that the blood test accurately identified more than 93% of patients with an NTM infection. Rapid, accurate diagnosis has never been more critical as cases of NTM infections have continued to increase annually, spreading from subtropical regions to more temperate zones in part due to global climate change. Bo Ning, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, is the new study's corresponding author. Read more here.