Did you know ...

It was Robert Koch who discovered the disease – using a microscope from Jena. 127 years ago, Koch announced that he had discovered the tuberculosis bacterium. We are now celebrating this pioneering achievement – on World Tuberculosis Day. A truly important anniversary as, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), one third of the world population is infected with tuberculosis – and the disease causes 1.6 million deaths every year.

Tuberculosis is still a global threat and, after HIV, is currently the most dangerous infectious disease. Most cases occur in South-East Asia and Africa, and someone is infected with the disease every second. With the aid of high-tech microscopy, Carl Zeiss and the FIND Foundation provide support where it is most urgently needed. The Primo Star iLED microscope specially developed for the detection of tuberculosis is available to severely affected countries at a special price.

What’s special about this microscope? The LED-excited fluorescence technique makes the pathogen more readily visible than in brightfield microscopy: the TB bacteria can be detected up to four times faster and up to 10 percent more precisely. Developers at Carl Zeiss have adapted the microscope to the conditions prevalent in the countries of use. It is easy to operate, has low running costs and, with its rechargeable battery, is optimally prepared for any power failure.

March 24, 2009