Molbio Diagnostics, a prominent player in point-of-care diagnostics, partnered with Goa Healthcare in collaboration with the Verna Industrial Association to screen employees from companies within the Verna Industrial Estate and one company at Mormugao port, as part of an active case finding outreach under the World TB Day slogan of “Yes! We can End TB”. The TB screening event was inaugurated at the GIDC administrative building hall, with Dr. Sandeep Naik, a well-known Chest Physician, as the Chief Guest. The event also featured appearances by Dr. Vinayak Buvaji, Sriram Natarajan, and Ganpat Kapdi, bringing together guests from various companies to support this important cause.
During the screening days, Molbio, together with clinicians from Goa Healthcare, utilised its mobile testing van to conduct screenings at various company sites. This initiative aimed to identify employees who may be at risk of developing TB. Prognosys Medical Systems, a Molbio subsidiary, deployed technicians equipped with the ultraportable x-ray device, Prorad Atlas. This state-of-the-art X-ray device, integrated with AI technology from Qure.AI, was used to screen for presumptive pulmonary TB. Any presumptive TB cases were further confirmed using Molbio’s Truenat® RT-PCR system. Fortunately, no presumptive TB cases were identified during the screening outreach. Molbio’s flagship product, the portable Truenat, has been approved by the World Health Organization for point-of-care molecular diagnostic testing and as a replacement for smear microscopy.
The Truenat(R) is a compact, battery-operated system that delivers sample results within an hour. This rapid turnaround time ensured that screened employees had almost-instantaneous access to their results, reinforcing Molbio’s commitment towards delivering rapid, accurate, and cost-effective point-of-care testing. The event highlighted the importance of early detection and education to mobilise efforts in combating the spread of TB and reducing its impact on the industrial workforce and the wider community.
Founder of Molbio Diagnostics, Sriram Natarajan, said: “We are thrilled to be part of this screening event within our local community and strongly encourage other companies to join us in larger numbers for future TB screening outreach programs. Through advocacy and disseminating information, Molbio is dedicated to promoting proactive measures and nurturing a collective dedication to effectively combat the TB challenge. With Goa leading the nation by replacing microscopy with molecular diagnostics, we hope to inspire other states to follow suit, thus advancing our mission to make India TB-free by 2025.”
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), India accounts for approximately a quarter of the world’s TB cases and prevalence of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) is posing additional difficulties in TB management and treatment.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event Indrajit Gawas, Director, Goa Healthcare, said: “For the past three years, we’ve been proud medical partners with Molbio Diagnostics. Today, we’re excited to join hands to serve the community and industries in raising awareness about TB. We eagerly anticipate the support of Molbio Diagnostics and aspire to extend our services toward creating a TB-free nation”.
Ganpat Kapdi , Treasurer Verna Industrial Association added: “I am happy to be involved in this program, which aims to expedite and enhance the diagnosis of TB through Molbio’s testing kits. Given the diverse influx of migrant workers from across the nation into our workforce, we are committed to utilizing Molbio’s technology to efficiently screen them for TB, ensuring swift outcomes. Our dedication extends to providing guidance and support to all employees, as we work towards our shared goal of making Goa TB-free”.
