Description
Why It’s Done:
• To identify the most effective drugs to treat a patient’s tuberculosis infection.
• To detect drug resistance patterns, including multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB) and extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB).
• To assist healthcare providers in tailoring a personalized and effective treatment regimen.
• To prevent ineffective treatments, reduce treatment failure, and help control the spread of resistant TB strains.
Preparation:
• No special preparation is required from the patient.
• Clinical specimens (e.g., sputum, pleural fluid, tissue biopsy) must be collected in sterile containers and sent promptly to the laboratory.
• Inform your healthcare provider if you are currently on anti-TB medications or other antibiotics.
• Because this test relies on bacterial culture, results may take several weeks to be available.


