The State Health Authorities in Kerala have introduced a new intradermal test called CY-TB for the detection and treatment of tuberculosis infection (TB) after the latent treatment of TB infections within the National TB elimination program (NTEP).
TB infection varies from active TB disease. A person with TBS infection contains an organism causing TB infection (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) in the body that probably gained it by contact with someone with an active disease. However, the body remains sleeping or inactive in the body and one has no symptoms of TB or contagious.
However, if it is not treated, 5-10% of them will proceed to develop an active TB disease when the immune system weakens, allowing TB bacteria to ignite. This may occur within a few weeks of obtaining an infection or possibly years, depending on the immune system and other factors determining immune regulation.
Studies
In 2023, a community cross-sectional study among adults in the Thiruvananthapuram district said in 2023 that about one fifth of the adult population in the district-20.5% of the adult-má tuberculosis infection. Study, “Prevalence of tuberculosis infection in adults in the Thiruvananthapuram district in Kerala, measured by testing interferon gamma-prickly study,” tested 396 adult samples in Thiruvananthapuram for TB infection and found that in 11.5% in 11.5% in 11.5% in 11.5% in 11.5% in 11.5% in 11.5% 18-3%in 18-3%, aged 18-%, 3%. Age group 58 years plus.
“Our studies show that about 22% of the state of the general population has received TB infection from the community. Although they do not pose an immediate threat to the community as soon as they reach the immunocomprominated state, the bacteria multiply and produce symptoms of active disease.
CY-TB is a third-generation test approved by the central division of TB.
Blood test detection
Since 2021, Kerala has been using TB infection to detect TB. However, this test required extensive laboratory support and had waiting time. There were also systemic problems when considering it.
CY-TB is a highly specific, accurate and user-friendly skin test where a dose of 0.1 ml of antigens specific to M. tuberculosis (ESAT-6 and CFP-10) is injected into the skin in the inner forearm. Induration (raised area) 5 mm or more that develops on the skin within 48-72 hours, indicates the TB infection (while the trained nurse may serve the injection, the person will have
If positive is tested, active TB must be excluded before considering preventive TB therapy. Preventive TB therapy is optional and is currently not recommended for all who are infected. Only high -risk individuals recommended for preventive therapy within NTEP itself must undergo preventive therapy.
Groups
In Kerala, the identified risk groups of the individual include immunosuppressive therapy, persons with silicosis (pulmonary disease after silica dust inhalation), persons in the treatment of anti-TNF and persons on dialysis and waiting for organ transplantation. Preventive therapy is also offered to healthcare workers who test positive in the CY-TB test.
Preventive therapy is a short regime with fewer drugs. It could be a three -month weekly isoniazide and rifpentine (3HP) or six months a day isoniazide (6h).
According to the TB State Division, CY-TB will be offered in district TB district centers, taluk hospitals, block level in some districts and also in all dialysis centers. The health department also intends to use CY-TB to test prisoners in old age, where the pulmonary TB was reported. The test is currently available in large private hospitals.
Published – July 19, 2025 17:05
