Microsens TB-Solutions provides all the key components for the enhanced diagnosis of TB through smear microscopy, and sample preparation for other procedures such as culture or NAT (PCR type) analysis.

Centred on Microsens’s unique core product TB-Beads, mycobacteria can be concentrated from
virtually any sample type using Microsens’s proprietary ligand coated para-magnetic beads.

The TB-Beads can then be captured onto microscope slides for staining and fluorescence
microscopy, or utilised for culture or NAT (PCR type) analysis, the sample being far cleaner than one
concentrated through centrifugation.

The TB-Beads protocol is a sensitive, rapid, and simple alternative to centrifugation for the
concentration of TB from sputum prior to microscopy. The advantages over centrifugation are that no
expensive equipment is required and the bottle-neck and potential hazard of centrifugation is
removed. The removable disposable TB-Well system gives the option of enabling the whole process of thinning, decontamination, capture and staining to be performed at one workstation in about one hour. Using the TB-Beads protocol, one technician can process 40-50 samples per day. The use of
Microsen’s TB-Well system enables the minimum of reagents to be used enabling ALL the reagents
, consumables and equipment (including fluorescent microscope) to be simply transported in a case
not much bigger than an overnight bag, enabling enhanced sensitivity indirect fluorescence
microscopy in environments where it was previously impossible, such as peripheral laboratories and
district/rural health centres. Additionally, TB-Beads enables the STAT Testing of urgent samples that
cannot easily be accommodated because batch processing has already started.

In conclusion, the TB-Beads technology allows laboratories to easily implement a concentration
method that will improve the diagnosis of tuberculosis and that will enhance case finding for
tuberculosis control.

The effectiveness of any diagnostic is partly determined by the quality and reliability of the reagents
utilised throughout the process, and this is the case with TB-Beads. While TB-Beads can happily be
used in conjunction with standard “off the shelf” and “home made” reagents for thinning and staining
accurately made up from properly QC’d component reagents, it is often difficult to ensure this. Microsens therefore recommends that where such QA and QC cannot be guaranteed, Microsens
own specially developed products are used. Accordingly, Microsens provides Combo Kits
combining all relevant reagents.


• TB-Beads Capture Kit - the core TB concentration Kit

• Sputum Thinning Kit (for sample manipulation within safety cabinets)

• Sputum Thinning Kit Plus (for sample manipulation outside safety cabinets)

• TB-Wells – self-adhesive wells to form a reaction chamber on a slide prior to capturing the magnetic
beads onto the surface of a slide and for on slide staining for the minimal use of stain and associated
reagents.

• TB-Safe - disinfectant for use when TB needs to be neutralised prior to thinning and decontamination
and concentration with TB-Beads e.g. for those environments where microscopy may be conducted on
a bench, away from a bio-safety hood.

• RAS (Rapid Auramine Stain), specially developed reagents for “in well” fluorescent staining of slides,
but equally effective for “over sink” staining.

• Re-suspension Buffer – To re-suspend beads captured in a tube.

• TB-Bench - Magnetic Workbenches for use with TB-Beads, TB-Wells and slides.

• TB-Rack - Magnetic Racks for the separation of TB-Beads for other applications.

• TB-LED – an LED adaptor to simply convert existing white light microscopes to fluorescence
microscopes by replacing an objective lens with this simple product. The device can run off batteries or
tiny solar panels. We are also able to supply microscopes.

• Tubes and pipettes and other accessories to ensure the accurate dispensing of materials and
reagents.

Combo Kits

• TB-Beads for Microscopy (Decontaminated) Kit (for use outside safety cabinets)

• TB-Beads for Microscopy Kit (For use within safety cabinets)

• TB-Beads for Culture Kit

• TB-Beads for Microscopy and Culture Kit (for sample manipulation within safety cabinets)