Introduction The VITEK 2 System is an automated microbiology platform designed for the rapid identification (ID) and antimicrobial susceptibility testing…
Introduction First-Line Drug Susceptibility Testing (FL-DST or sometimes referred to in context as SL-DST when covering all first-line agents: Rifampicin,…
Introduction Second-line drug susceptibility testing (SL-DST) for tuberculosis is a crucial laboratory procedure designed to detect resistance to anti-TB drugs…
Introduction of Bacterial Load (Decoding the CFU) Bacterial load, measured in Colony-Forming Units (CFU), is a fundamental concept in microbiology…
Introduction Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra is an automated diagnostic test designed for the rapid and simultaneous detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB)…
Introduction Lowenstein-Jensen (L-J) medium is the gold standard for the cultivation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. However, because it is an egg-based,…
Introduction The Xpert MTB/XDR assay is an advanced molecular diagnostic tool designed by Cepheid to rapidly detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex…
Introduction Middlebrook 7H9 broth is a liquid growth medium first described in 1958 by Middlebrook and Cohn for the specialized…