There is an urgent need for improved tools for laboratory diagnosis of active tuberculosis
(TB). Here, we describe two methods, a catch-up ELISA and a dipstick test based on the
detection in urine of lipoarabinomannan (LAM). LAM is a major and specific glycolipid
component of the outer mycobacterial cell wall. Preliminary experiments showed that LAM is
excreted in the urine of mice injected intraperitoneally with a crude cell wall preparation of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Both methods were highly sensitive, detecting LAM at …