Performance characteristics and operational feasibility assessment of a CRISPR based tata MD CHECK diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19).

Background: Tata MD CHECK SARS-CoV-2 kit 1.0, a CRISPR based reverse transcription PCR (TMC-CRISPR) test was approved by Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) for COVID-19 diagnosis in India. To determine the potential for rapid roll-out of this test, we conducted performance characteristic and an operational feasibility assessment (OFA) at a tertiary care setting.

Simultaneous screening for COVID-19 and tuberculosis, India.

Objective: To evaluate the implementation of new operational workflows for simultaneous screening of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and tuberculosis at four high-volume COVID-19 testing centres located in tertiary hospitals in Mumbai, India.

Methods: Each centre already offering antigen-detecting rapid diagnostic tests were equipped with a rapid molecular testing platform for COVID-19 and tuberculosis, sufficient laboratory staff, and reagents and consumables for screening. Using a verbal tuberculosis questionnaire, a patient follow-up agent screened individuals visiting the COVID-19 testing centres.

Corrigendum: Persisting positron emission tomography lesion activity and Mycobacterium tuberculosis mRNA after tuberculosis cure.

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/nm.4177.

Host blood RNA signatures predict the outcome of tuberculosis treatment.

Biomarkers for tuberculosis treatment outcome will assist in guiding individualized treatment and evaluation of new therapies. To identify candidate biomarkers, RNA sequencing of whole blood from a well-characterized TB treatment cohort was performed. Application of a validated transcriptional correlate of risk for TB revealed symmetry in host gene expression during progression from latent TB infection to active TB disease and resolution of disease during treatment, including return to control levels after drug therapy.