Flow Direct: Next-Generation Urine Test for TB at the Point of Care
Official title: Flow Direct: Next Generation Urine LFA for TB Diagnosis in Point-of-Care Settings
Funded at Salus Discovery, LLC · NIH-11418834 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new, affordable urine-based test could help diagnose tuberculosis quickly at clinics or in low-resource settings, including people living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Sbir 2 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Salus Discovery, LLC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | September 19, 2025 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $999,991 |
| NIH project number | 5R44AI184104-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11418834 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates include adults in settings with high TB burden, particularly those with HIV co-infection or limited access to centralized laboratories.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals in settings with existing reliable TB testing or those unlikely to access point-of-care testing may see limited benefit.
What this research studies
This grant supports developing a simple urine lateral flow assay that can be used at point-of-care to detect TB. The project aims to create a low-cost, easy-to-use test that reads results with a straightforward add-wait-read process, making TB testing more accessible in low-resource settings. It targets populations affected by TB and HIV co-infection, with the goal of expanding timely diagnosis and treatment decisions. The work is designed for a specific, patient-facing diagnostic product rather than basic biology alone, and includes translation toward real-world use.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the test could increase TB diagnosis rates at primary care sites and speed up treatment for patients in areas with limited laboratory capability.
How similar studies have gone: Previous urine LFA approaches have shown variable sensitivity, but targeted improvements for low-resource POCT TB testing remain an active area with promising but incremental progress.
Where this research is happening
-
Salus Discovery, LLC
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Warrick, Jay Wyatt — Salus Discovery, LLC
- Study coordinator: Warrick, Jay Wyatt
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.