RAPID DIAGNOSIS OF MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS

Abstract

Early laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis is the need of the hour, to envisage early institution of treatment and ensure convalescence of this dreadful disease. Several culture media is used to isolate the pathogen from the clinical samples including liquid and solid media. Our study the importance of middle brook media which yielded growth as early as one week in relation to bacterial load in the sample in contrast to the conventional LJ medium which required 6-8 weeks incubation which delayed the treatment and proved costly both for the institution and the diseased.