Description
Why It’s Done:
• To identify the most effective drugs for treating a patient’s tuberculosis infection.
• To detect drug resistance, including multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) or extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB).
• To help healthcare providers customize treatment regimens based on bacterial susceptibility.
• To avoid ineffective treatment, reduce treatment failure, and prevent further development of drug resistance.
Preparation:
• No special preparation is needed from the patient.
• A clinical specimen (such as sputum, pleural fluid, or tissue biopsy) must be collected under sterile conditions and sent promptly to the laboratory.
• Inform your healthcare provider of any current anti-TB or antibiotic treatments.
• The test requires bacterial culture, so results typically take several weeks
