The portable test could help millions with limited access to health care Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria (illustrated) causes tuberculosis. A new tongue swab test identifies an active infection in just 30 minutes with high accuracy, enhancing the chances of timely treatment. " data-large-file="https://www.sciencenews.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/05/051426_SM_tuberculosistest_main.jpg?w=800"> Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria (illustrated) causes tuberculosis. A new tongue swab test identifies an active infection in just 30 minutes with high accuracy, enhancing the chances of timely treatment. KATERYNA KON/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY/Getty Images This is a human-written story voiced by AI. Got feedback? Take our survey . (See our AI policy here .) Diagnosing tuberculosis — the world’s most lethal infectious disease — with minimal training and without expensive laboratory infrastructure could now be a reality for millions.…