Mice Can Detect Tuberculosis Accurately?

Mice? In my mind, mice are the sucks animal. But, who knows? Mice can detect Tuberculosis more accurate than other tests that commonly tested in the laboratorium.
This research used Gambian mice conducted at Western Michigan University in the United States gave interesting results. Mice can be trained to sniff Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, which exist in human sputum.

In the study, mice were asked to sniff two types namely sputum samples of TB and sputum without bacteria containing the TB bacteria. When the mice spent more time in sputum with TB bacteria, they were given a gift of peanuts and bananas. As a result, mice have the capability of detection of TB of 86.6 percent.
Tests commonly performed to detect TB patients are also using sputum samples. Tests that have been aged 100 years was examining sputum using a certain compound under a microscope.

As reported Popsci, such tests are not successfully detect 60-80 percent positive cases and should no longer be relied upon. Detection is difficult because the bacteria is hard to see unless there are huge numbers. But this successfully trained mice to detect 44 percent more positive cases, based on newspaper the New York Times.
WHO actually has issued a new skiring method that can remove accurate test results within 2 hours. But, the cost for these tests reached 17,000 U.S. dollars (about 150 million dollars). "Tests with the mice are certainly cheaper," said the researcher.

Some animals are also known to be able to detect the disease. Dogs can detect cancer. Mice also can detect avian influenza. Gambian mice in the study of TB is even used to detect land mines. Because of its size, this mouse will not trigger mines.