Researchers have made a major breakthrough in diagnosing tuberculosis (TB).

The scientists at Oxford and Birmingham can isolate different strains of the disease using a process called genome sequencing.  The discovery will allow doctors to instantly prescribe the proper drugs for treatment, rather than have a patient wait for weeks or months until the strain was identified. It's the first time anyone in the world has applied the technique on such a large scale, according to Public Health England.

"We're able to provide information on the species of the organism and the drugs to which it may be resistant if it's TB," said microbiologist Dr Grace Smith.

The UK's rate of TB cases has been going down recently, but the country still has more TB than any other country in Europe.  This breakthrough comes as health officials warn of the rise of new strains of drug-resistant tuberculosis.  One recent study found one in five global cases of the disease is now resistant to at least one major treatment drug.