Laboratory Diagnosis of Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis is one of the commonest infection in Indian population. It is important to diagnose and treat this disease in order to avoid Multiple drug resistance Tuberculosis.

Common Symptoms:

Fever with evening rise
Loss of weight
Loss of appetite
Persistent Cough
Pain in the Chest
Fatigue
Shortness of breath
Infertility

Test/Specimen

Utility of Test

Indication

Reporting Time

QuantiFERON
TB Gold
(QTB Gold)
Whole Blood

Advantage

Test is performed on whole blood.
Has greater sensitivity to active TB Disease.
Rapid results with in 48-72 hours.

QuantiFERON TB GOLD Test may be performed on all patients where TB is suspected. QTB GOLD should also be performed on all patients where therapeutic trial of anti-tubercular treatment is to be started.

3 to 5 days

Rapid TB Culture
Site specific
(Sputum, Aspirates, Discharge, Pus, Body Fluids etc)

Advantage

Gold standards for diagnosis of TB.
Positive results may be obtained within 5-14 days; Differentiation and Sensitivity is available within next 7-10 days.
Minimal chances of contamination.

Rapid TB Culture may be performed on all patients where site-Specific Specimen is available and there is clinical suspicion of Tuberculosis.

1to 6 Weeks

Patients/Clinician is informed on phone immediately if growth appears early.

Suggestion

QuantiFERON TB GOLD Test should be performed on all patients where there is a clinical suspicion of Tuberculosis. Since, Turn Around Time is less (Reporting Time) the test may be performed on all patients before starting anti-tubercular treatment. This test is very useful where Site-Specific Specimen is not available. For further details you may visit www.cellestis.com

Rapid TB Culture may be performed on all patients where Site-Specific Specimen is available and there is a clinical suspicion of Tuberculosis. Even though Turn Around Time is more (Reporting time) the test is a Gold Standard for confirmation of Diagnosis of Tuberculosis. In Positive specimen sensitivity must be performed. In view of increasing MDR-TB this test will prove very useful in eliminating TB.