Reducing delays in the laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis

Abstract

In a recently published report on the mycobacteriology testing practices of laboratories in five proficiency testing programs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded that the use of solid culture media and the practice of referring acid-fast bacilli positive specimens or isolates to another laboratory for complete analysis (primary culture, organism identification, and/or drug susceptibility testing) could result in delayed identification and treatment of individuals with tuberculosis.' We considered the same issue from a clinical standpoint, examining the interval between specimen collection and receipt of mycobacterial culture and susceptibility results by clinicians.