SmartSpot boosts safe, rapid TB diagnostics
- Wits University
Wits-developed SmartSpot has become an innovative tool in TB testing, making diagnostics safer, faster, and more accessible.
In a small yet highly innovative laboratory in Braamfontein, Professor Bavesh Kana and his team are quietly revolutionising the global response to tuberculosis (TB). As Head of the Centre of Excellence for Biomedical TB Research, Kana leads a research group that developed SmartSpot, a diagnostic innovation that has enhanced TB testing in South Africa and around the world.
“The challenge was not only diagnosing TB,” says Kana. “It was about doing it safely, quickly, and reliably, without putting healthcare workers at risk.”
In 2010, the National Department of Health adopted molecular diagnostics to accelerate TB testing. However, laboratories faced a significant hurdle to validate diagnostic machines without using live TB bacteria, which present a serious infection risk.
Kana’s team provided the solution. They developed a method to grow TB bacteria, kill them while preserving their structure, and embed them onto filter paper. These Dried Culture Spot cards provided safe, DNA-rich samples that allowed laboratories to calibrate machines without any risk of infection.
“The devices do not require live bacteria. They only need to detect DNA,” explains Kana. “So we created a way to safely provide what the machines needed.”
This breakthrough positioned South Africa as a global leader in implementing next-generation TB diagnostics. The team went further by exploring biomimicry to improve safety and efficiency. They engineered non-infectious soil bacteria to carry TB-like DNA signatures, creating a safe, scalable, and cost-effective alternative.
“We used a fast-growing, harmless organism that mimics TB at the genetic level. It was easy to produce and addressed urgent public health demands,” he adds.
The success of this approach enabled SmartSpot to expand significantly, improving access to TB diagnostics in numerous countries.
“SmartSpot is a powerful example of what is possible in South Africa,” says Kana. “It is the result of layered local innovation and the creativity of our people.”