low-cost lateral flow point-of-care saliva test for tetanus immunity
University of Birmingham researchers in partnership with Clinical Immunology Services and Medtechtomarket have developed a non-invasive saliva test to identify those without sufficient immunity to tetanus.
Initial research by the university was then developed at medtechtomarket to create a low-cost lateral flow point-of-care test that enables immunity to be tested easily, quickly and without taking blood.
The new test has been developed with a focus on sustainability and uses ≥ 35% less total plastic compared with lateral flow tests used during COVID‑19.
Point Of Care Diagnostics
Point of Care testing involves medical diagnostic testing performed near or at the site of patient care. These tests deliver rapid results to enable immediate clinical decisions. Key benefits include improved patient outcomes, faster treatment, and reduced delays. This particular lateral flow test works in around 30 minutes with no requirement to be sent away to a laboratory.
The test will be evaluated in Rwanda, working with the Center for Family Health Research and the Rwanda Biomedical Centre, based in Kigali. Over the next 12 months, researchers will assess how well the test works in real-life and discover how acceptable the test is among the local community and healthcare workers.
Dr Jennifer Heaney, Principal Investigator from the School of Infection, Inflammation and Immunology at the University of Birmingham, said:
“Whilst we are testing specifically for tetanus immunity, since the tetanus vaccine is regularly combined with other disease targets in the same injection, if an individual is unprotected against tetanus this indicates that they are also likely to be missing protection against other serious vaccine-preventable diseases. After this study, we could use the test to do further sero-epidemiological work in other parts of Rwanda or elsewhere in the world to help link immunisation activities to immunity data.”
Read more here: https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/news/2026/birmingham-researchers-to-evaluate-new-tetanus-saliva-test-in-global-south
