It will replace the existing skin test which has been used to detect TB for the last 100 years.

The disease is one of the most virulent viruses with 88 million people in the world contracting it and 30 million dying from it in the last 10 years.

This test is needed as never before because TB is resurging in the developed world

Dr Peter Wrighton-Smith Oxford Immunotec

The World Health Organisation has declared a "global emergency" and said more people are dying from TB than in any other time in history.

Earlier in this week, 170 people had to be tested in Glasgow when two men died after contracting TB at a city pub.

Five people were diagnosed with the disease after a cluster of cases which were traced back to a barmaid.

Faster results

The test, created by Oxford Immunotec Ltd, a new university spin-off company, is said to radically improve the speed and accuracy with which the disease can be identified.

It has come from discoveries made over the last seven years at the university by Dr Ajit Lalvani and the Nuffield Department of Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital.

It works by studying a person's cellular immune response to an infection and, importantly, will also make it possible to accurately identify people who are carrying TB infection but who have not yet gone on to develop the disease.

It also works well in people with weaker immune systems, such as children, the elderly and those with conditions such as HIV.

Dr Peter Wrighton-Smith, CEO of Oxford Immunotec, said: "We are extremely excited about this new test which we believe will revolutionise TB control.

"This test is needed as never before because TB is resurging in the developed world and already parts of the UK have TB rates as high as India."