Lab-in-a-cartridge for real-time detection of tuberculosis via precise measurement of urinary lipoarabinomannan

Woong Heo, Qingyang Wang, Seoyeon Choi, Joonchul Shin, Seong Jun Park, Sunyoung Park, Dong-Uk Kim, Jungho Kim, Young Ae Kang and Hyo-Il Jung ()
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Woong Heo: Seodaemun-gu, School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro
Qingyang Wang: Seodaemun-gu, School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro
Seoyeon Choi: Seodaemun-gu, School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro
Joonchul Shin: Seodaemun-gu, School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro
Seong Jun Park: 50 Yonsei-ro, The DABOM Inc.
Sunyoung Park: Seodaemun-gu, School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro
Dong-Uk Kim: Seodaemun-gu, School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro
Jungho Kim: Catholic University of Pusan, Department of Clinical Laboratory Science, College of Health Sciences
Young Ae Kang: Yonsei University College of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine
Hyo-Il Jung: Seodaemun-gu, School of Mechanical Engineering, Yonsei University, 50 Yonsei-ro

Nature Communications, 2025, vol. 16, issue 1, 1-14

Abstract: Abstract Current methods for detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) in centralized medical facilities are a bottleneck in TB surveillance, particularly in resource-constrained regions. In response, we present a groundbreaking portable bio-tool, the lab-in-a-cartridge (LIC) system, designed for on-site detection of lipoarabinomannan (LAM) in trace amounts within the urine. The innovative design combines pumpless liquid handling and magnetic force-based enrichment with horseradish peroxidase polymer amplification to precisely quantify low biomarker levels. Employing a tetramethylbenzidine-based colorimetric reaction, the LIC enables semi-quantitative LAM detection. This LIC incorporates all necessary reagents, achieving a detection threshold of as low as 0.01 pg/mL in pooled urine samples within 40 minutes. The LIC distinguishes TB patients in clinical urine samples with 92% sensitivity and 88% specificity. This pioneering device not only sets an improved standard for detecting low LAM concentrations but also holds the potential to realize a decentralized diagnosis of TB.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65217-w

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