New Preprint Supports Tongue Swab TB Molecular Testing with Pluslife MiniDock MTB Test

New evidence supports the use of tongue swabs for TB molecular testing using the Pluslife MiniDock MTB Test.

A new preprint study across four high TB-burden countries (the Philippines, Viet Nam, Uganda, and Zambia) evaluated tongue swab molecular testing with MiniDock MTB compared with sputum-based molecular testing (Xpert Ultra or other WHO-recommended assays).

Key findings

• Among 1,639 participants, tongue swabs were successfully collected from 99.9%, while sputum or stool samples were obtained from 84.7%, highlighting the accessibility of non-sputum sampling.

• Diagnostic yield was 3.8% (tongue swab) vs 4.1% (sputum), within the ±3% non-inferiority margin, confirming comparable case detection.

• Participants reported less discomfort (8.6% vs 21.8%). In total, 62.4% preferred tongue swab collection, while 18.4% preferred sputum, reflecting high acceptability and user comfort.

These findings suggest that tongue swab molecular testing could expand access to TB diagnosis in community and near point-of-care settings, especially where sputum collection is challenging.

Reference
Kaswabuli B, Turyashemererwa J, Dela Cruz CS, Anh PT, Nakiyingi L, et al. Diagnostic yield of tongue swab-compared to sputum-based molecular testing for tuberculosis in four high-burden countries. medRxiv [preprint]. 2025 Jul 14. doi: 10.1101/2025.07.14.24310787.