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4.2

Laboratory diagnosis of TB

National TB Management Guidelines, 2018 Edition. Chapter 4, Approach to TB diagnosis.

Clinical description

  • Whenever possible, bacteriologic confirmation of TB by one of the laboratory

methods described below should be used to make a definitive diagnosis of TB disease.

Bacteriology refers to using smear, culture or newer WHO approved rapid diagnostics to definitively identify TB.

  • The laboratory diagnosis of TB begins with the collection of a quality specimen. In

many cases this is a sputum specimen.

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