Recent research has shown that various strains of the mycobacteria produce distinct gaseous volatile biomarkers that can be used as a methodology for detecting and identifying the mycobacterium.[4,5,6] Specifically, Syhre and Chambers found that Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium bovis cultures give off four specific volatile organic biomarkers (VOBs): methyl phenylacetate, methyl p-anisate, methyl nicotinate, and o-phenylanisole. These compounds were detectable before the visual appearance of colonies, which could have implications in detection of latent TB infection.[7] Syhre et al. were able to detect statistically significant differences of methyl nicotinate in the breath of smear positive TB patients when compared to healthy (smear negative) subjects. Analyses in these studies were done using gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy analysis tools. While they are effective in identifying and quantifying complex gas samples, they are expensive, bulky, and not appropriate for point of care (POC) diagnostics.