In a boost to Karnataka’s efforts to eliminate tuberculosis by 2025, KC General Hospital in Bengaluru has received an additional Cartridge-Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CBNAAT) machine, aimed at reducing delays in diagnosis for the city’s large patient load.
The hospital, a major tertiary care centre in the heart of the city, has been struggling with an overwhelmed TB testing capacity despite having one CBNAAT unit already in place. The new machine is expected to significantly improve turnaround time for test results.
Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao inaugurated the new equipment on Thursday. Speaking at the event, he said that Syngenta India Pvt. Ltd., under its CSR initiative, has provided seven CBNAAT machines worth around ₹1.5 crore for public use. “Three machines have been allocated to Vijayanagar district, three to Kolar district, and one to KC General Hospital,” he said.
The CBNAAT technology, endorsed by the World Health Organisation in 2010, can detect TB and rifampicin resistance within two hours, a stark contrast to conventional culture methods that take up to six to eight weeks. With a sensitivity of over 92% and specificity of 98%, the test is crucial for early and accurate detection of both pulmonary and extra-pulmonary TB.
Karnataka currently operates 145 CBNAAT machines under the National TB Elimination Programme (NTEP). Between January and October 2025, 16.87 lakh presumptive TB cases were tested in the State, out of which 10.99 lakh underwent molecular testing. Each machine conducts 300 to 400 tests monthly, but urban facilities like KC General are witnessing higher demand.
The hospital authorities said the lone existing machine is overwhelmed with specimens every day, leading to delays in turnaround time for confirming rifampicin-resistant TB. The new machine is expected to significantly enhance diagnostic capacity.
The initiative aligns with India’s goal of eliminating TB by 2025 – five years ahead of global targets – under the National Strategic Plan’s mandate to expand rapid molecular testing for all presumptive TB patients. Karnataka has already notified 63,605 TB cases till October 2025, achieving 95% of its annual target, with a treatment success rate of 88%.
Published – December 05, 2025 01:25 am IST
