Illumina, GenoScreen collaborate on genomic testing for drug-resistant TB
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Illumina (NASDAQ:ILMN) and GenoScreen are collaborating to expand access to genomic testing for multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis (TB) in an effort to end the disease worldwide.
The partnership will expand capabilities for countries most impacted by tuberculosis to more effectively detect MDR-TB, the company said in a statement on Tuesday.

The companies will enable global access to a package combining Illumina sequencing products and GenoScreen's Deeplex Myc-TB assay, a targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS)- based test for rapid detection of anti-TB drug resistance.
The alliance aims to help advance the World Health Organization's strategy to end the global TB epidemic by 2035.
Illumina said standard culture-based testing methods have a turnaround times of up to two months, and conventional molecular assays are limited in detecting drug resistance.
Illumina noted that Deeplex uses a culture-free approach to identify TB mycobacteria and more than 100 non-TB mycobacterial species, and predicts resistance to 15 antibiotics, in 24 to 48 hours, directly from main respiratory samples.