News Health & Medicine Giant rats detect tuberculosis Animals can be trained to sniff out TB in sputum samples, adding to accuracy of microscope test By Nathan Seppa December 23, 2010 at 11:31 am - More than 2 years ago Share this:Share Share via email (Opens in new window) Email Share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Share on X (Opens in new window) X Print (Opens in new window) Print Low-income countries struggling to keep tuberculosis under control might get a boost from an unlikely source — giant African rats. TB RATTED OUT A technician monitors a giant African rat as it sniffs sputum samples to check for tuberculosis.