Description
Why It’s Done:
This test is performed to:
• Identify if Mycobacterium tuberculosis is resistant or sensitive to Ethionamide.
• Help clinicians customize TB treatment, especially in cases of MDR-TB or when first-line drugs are ineffective.
• Monitor resistance patterns in patients undergoing treatment for TB.
• Prevent the use of ineffective antibiotics, reducing treatment failure and spread of resistant strains.
Preparation:
• No special preparation is required for the patient.
• A suitable clinical specimen (e.g., sputum, pleural fluid, lymph node biopsy) must be collected aseptically and sent promptly to the laboratory.
• Inform your healthcare provider about any ongoing TB treatment or use of antibiotics.
• The test is done in a specialized microbiology lab; results usually take several weeks due to the slow-growing nature of Mycobacterium tuberculosis
