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 Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X Click to 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.