Tuberculosis: 7. Laboratory aspects of diagnosis

Table 2: Turnaround time (from receipt of specimen to reporting of results) for analysis of specimens in cases of suspected tuberculosis Method of analysis Turnaround time Acid-fast smear 1 d Culture report 1–2 wk Identification of M. tuberculosis 2–3 wk Drug susceptibilty testing 3–4 wk

[Return to text]