The Ministry of Public Health delivered 144 targeted sequencing tests to the Dr. Leopoldo Izquieta Pérez National Institute of Public Health Research (INSPI) this week, according to a March 17 announcement. The initiative is led by Vice President María José Pinto.
The main goal of this delivery is to strengthen scientific capacity for detecting drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis and expand the use of genomic analysis in Ecuador. The investment for these tests exceeds USD 12,000. Officials say the new tools will help provide timely diagnosis and treatment for people with tuberculosis through direct sample analysis.
The sequencing kits will be used at INSPI’s National Reference Center for Genomics, Sequencing, and Bioinformatics, where a pilot project is underway focusing on genomic analysis of the bacteria that causes tuberculosis. The technology uses a targeted sequencing panel (NGS), which amplifies specific regions of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis genome where mutations linked to drug resistance occur.
Unlike whole genome sequencing, this method focuses on primary samples without requiring cultivation, allowing for faster, more cost-effective results that are easier to interpret. This approach aims to improve clinical decision-making, especially as new therapeutic regimens for resistant tuberculosis have been introduced in recent years.
According to the Ministry of Public Health, this effort supports advanced scientific tools within Ecuador’s national health system and aligns with international efforts to reduce the impact of tuberculosis worldwide.
