Carl Zeiss has released the Primo Star iLED fluorescence microscope, which can detect tuberculosis pathogens four times faster and with 10 per cent more sensitivity than most brightfield microscopes.
Audrey Lambert from Carl Zeiss UK said: 'Using LED technology has enabled us to package the speed and sensitivity benefits of fluorescence microscopy into a more robust and cost-effective product.' Carl Zeiss co-developed the Primo Star iLED with Find, the Foundation for Innovative New Diagnostics.
It offers easy switching between fluorescence and brightfield modes, making it suitable for simple laboratory and routine applications.
The microscope is sturdy and can be battery-operated for several hours in the event of power failure, a common occurrence in countries where tuberculosis is prevalent.
The Primo Star iLED has reflected light fluorescence illumination, offering a better signal-to-noise ratio and eliminating the risk of glare.
The microscope was previewed at the thirty-ninth World Union Conference on Lung Health in Paris.
With one in three persons already infected with the tuberculosis bacterium and the emergence of multi-resistant strains and HIV co-infection, the WHO estimates the disease will cause 30 million deaths in the next ten years.
Lambert added: 'The Primo Star iLED was developed specifically to help low resource countries, in particular the public health sector of the 22 high TB-burden countries, and will be supplied to these countries through FIND at a very favourable price.'
