LABORATORY METHODS FOR DIAGNOSIS AND DETECTION OF DRUG RESISTANT MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS COMPLEX WITH REFERENCE TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: A REVIEW

Abstract

Objective: To outline principles, advantages and limitations of the currently available
laboratory methods for diagnosis and detection of drug resistance of Mycobacterium
tuberculosis complex.
Data source: Published series of peer reviewed journals and manuals written on laboratory
methods that are currently used for diagnosis and detection of drug resistance of
Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex were reviewed using the index medicus, pubmed and
medline search. Conventional bacteriological microscopy and culture, BACTEC, and
molecular-based techniques were included. Basic principles, advantages and limitations of
the cited techniques have been highlighted.
Conclusion: Conventional bacteriological microscopy and culture are usually used for
diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) particularly in developing countries. However, their limited
sensitivity, specificity and delayed results make this provision inadequate. Despite the
development of quicker and more sensitive novel diagnostic techniques, their complexity and
high cost has limited their use in many poor-resource countries. Due to the rapidly growing
TB problem in these countries, there is urgent need to assess promising alternative
methodologies in settings with high disease prevalence.