Using Sniffer Rats to Detect Tuberculosis

HeroRATs are trained by APOPO to save lives and limbs, by using their exceptional sense of smell to sniff out unexploded landmines and tuberculosis.
This video demonstrates the use of sniffer rats to detect TB in human sputum samples. On average, a lab technician can process 40 samples per day - a HeroRAT will screen the sample quantity of samples in just 7 minutes. Each week, APOPO's detection rats identify 10-15 new cases of TB, previously missed by traditional diagnostic methods.
To learn more about this life-saving work, visit APOPO's website: http://www.apopo.org/

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• tuberculosis
• rats
• apopo
• nonprofit
• africa
• grassroots
• outreach

[68redneck67]

About how long is the training of these rats?

[apopovideos]

@68redneck67 It takes approximately nine months to fully train a HeroRAT.

[whoregay]

Can he sniff out teh aids?

[apopovideos]

@whoregay Currently, the only disease our heroRATs are only trained to sniff out is Tuberculosis. However, tuberculosis is the leading killer of people with AIDs

[jonathanyg]

i thought that it should b made clear.....

THIS IS ANIMAL TESTING AT IT'S BEST.....

AND SHOULD BE THE ONLY WAY TO TEST ANIMALS..........THIS IS WHY HUMANS STARTED TRAINING ANIMALS IN THE FIRST PLACE, THEREFORE IT SHOULD NOT BE FROWNED UPON......

GOOD JOB GUYS........I'M CERTAIN THAT ONE DAY YOUR RESEARCH WILL SAVE LIVES........AND PERHAPS(with any luck) EVEN PUT AN END TO THIS HORRIBLE DISEASE!!!!

[sivrel]

Simply put this is research that is very likely to save lives. In fact rat training has already saved countless lives in detecting landmines.

[kareemapollo]

If it is true it wil be the best point of care method for tb

[MyTemporaryAccount88]

It's nice to see that rats are finally starting to get the recognition they deserve in what they can help us with. Keep up the good work, and let's hope it works well to prevent deaths!

[TheCh0senPessimist]

I want one of those as a pet!

[dontdoitnow]

look at the SIZE of that thing ugh

[shane8323]

i wish my pet rat was that big!