As a spin-off application, APOPO currently develops HeroRATS for TB screening. Proof of principle has already been provided that HeroRATS can rapidly screen human sputum samples for TB at a similar sensitivity as sputum microscopy, but at a lower level of skills in the operators. Where a lab technician can process about 50 samples/day with a microscope, a HeroRAT evaluation setup processes 150 samples/hour (analysis with 3 animals)
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Business start-up:
HeroRATS
Training African giant pouched rats to detect landmines and disease...
Tanzania, Angola, Mozambique