Project Tide - TB Lam Test
A smartphone app that improves the accuracy and impact of healthcare rapid diagnostic tests
The TB LAM test is a first step in addressing the needs of those in resource poor settings because it is inexpensive and can be used at the point of care without the need for laboratory facilities. However, because of the interpretive difficulties with the test, up to 50% of TB positive patients are misdiagnosed as being TB negative. Project Tides diagnostic strip reader app and data platform can address this problem and preliminary results indicate a much greater accuracy in being able to positively identify patients who have TB; thus helping to mitigate the problems of leaving TB patients undiagnosed and overuse of medication in patients who do not have TB. Improving diagnosis rates by just 1% could result in tens of thousands of lives being saved per year.