Scientists in the UK say they have developed an ultra-sensitive test which can detect the presence of the TB bacterium in one hour.
Developers at the Health Protection Agency claim the test can spot all strains of the disease, which in 2008 killed 1.3 million people worldwide.
The standard test for TB can take up to eight weeks to reach a diagnosis, by which time the patient can have easily infected many people.
Neil Bowdler reports.
BBC