Abstract: The invention provides a bioassay for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection comprising artificially modified peptide subsequences of the T-cell epitope from M. tuberculosis Ag85B. Particularly preferred peptides have the form: SGGNNSPAX (SEQ ID 26), where X is Methionine (SEQ ID 18), Leucine (SEQ ID 17), Alanine (SEQ ID 15) or Valine (SEQ ID 10) and NNSPAV (SEQ ID 14). The invention also provides peptides for use in such an assay.

Abstract: The invention provides a bioassay for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection comprising artificially modified peptide subsequences of the T-cell epitope from M. tuberculosis Ag85B. Particularly preferred peptides have the form: SGGNNSPAX (SEQ ID 26), where X is Methionine (SEQ ID 18), Leucine (SEQ ID 17), Alanine (SEQ ID 15) or Valine (SEQ ID 10) and NNSPAV (SEQ ID 14). The invention also provides peptides for use in such an assay.

Abstract: A sample collection apparatus which measures biological samples and can be used to provide the early detection of respiratory diseases, for example tuberculosis induced by the pathogen mycobacterium tuberculosis. The sample collection apparatus has a sample collection unit and a corresponding complementary reader unit. The collection unit collects a sample exhaled from the user through a collection vessel with an optical interrogation region. The sample is spread on the inside of the vessel over the interrogation region and subsequently analyzed. The test results are displayed via the reader unit.

Abstract: In a biological measurement system (10) for collecting one or more samples of sputum and/or mucus from a patient in the form of an aerosol and for analyzing said one or more samples to detect whether or not pathogens are present therein, the one or more samples are in solution within the system (10) and detection of the pathogens is performed using a fluorescently labeled assay. The system (10) is adapted to detect bacterial pathogens using evanescent-wave spectroscopy preferably by using a single-reflective technique. The one or more samples are advantageously provided to the system (10) in aerosol form. However, the system (10) is capable of being adapted for use in analyzing samples in liquid form. Methods of analyzing said one or more samples in the system (10) are described.