Tests and Services Manual: Mycobacteriology

Molecular Detection
of M.tuberculosis
complex
(Xpert MTB/RIF Assay)
Specimen:

  • Raw sputum (induced or expectorated)
  • Processed sputum sediment (NALC/NaOH treated)
  Method:

Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (NAAT)

Turn Around Time:

1–4 days

Special Requirements:

  • Raw sputum: 3 mL minimum volume, must be received by PHL no more than three days from collection
  • Processed sediments: 1.4 mL minimum volume, must be received by PHL no more than seven days from processing
  • Only first-time smear positive specimens will be tested
  • Requests for testing smear negative specimens require approval from Bureau of TB Control
MYCOBACTERIAL
CULTURE (PRIMARY)
IDENTIFICATION
OF MTB
Specimen:

Clinical specimens

  Method:

  • MTD (NAAT) (Respiratory specimens , first time positive only. Non- respiratory specimens  need Bureau of TB Control approval)
  • HPLC
  • Accuprobe
Turn Around Time:

10 weeks

Special Requirements:

  • Clinical specimens in sterile containers  ≥ 5 ml
  • Indicate date of first positive smear
  • Non- respiratory specimens need Bureau of TB Control approval
MYCOBACTERIA
TUBERCULOSIS
IDENTIFICATION/
CONFIRMATION
Specimen:

Referral isolate/broth

  Method:

  • HPLC
  • Accuprobe
Turn Around Time:

14 days

Special Requirements:

Pure culture with adequate growth > 5 colonies.

MYCOBACTERIA
TUBERCULOSIS
ANTIBIOTIC
SUSCEPTIBILITY
(FIRST LINE;
SECOND LINE)
Specimen:

Reflexed from Mycobacterial culture, identification, confirmation

  Method:

  • MGIT
  • Agar Proportion (Only resistant to any of the SIRE)
Turn Around Time:

14 - 28 days

Special Requirements:

Pure culture with adequate growth > 5 colonies

GENOTYPING

Specimen:

Referral  isolate/broth

  Method:

  • Spoligotyping (First time MTBC patients)
  • RFLP
Turn Around Time:

7 days

Special Requirements:

  • Spoligotyping- heat killed
  • RFLP- on Lowenstein Jenson slant