AFB Culture MGIT (automated)

An AFB Culture using the Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) system is a rapid, automated, and non-radiometric method for detecting and identifying mycobacteria, such as those that cause tuberculosis (TB). This automated system uses a liquid medium containing a fluorescent compound that's sensitive to oxygen. As mycobacteria grow in the tube, they consume oxygen, which causes the fluorescent compound to glow. An automated instrument, like the BACTEC MGIT 960, continuously monitors the tubes for this fluorescence, alerting the lab technician to a positive result much faster than traditional solid-media cultures, which can take weeks. This allows for quicker diagnosis and the initiation of appropriate treatment, which is critical for controlling the spread of diseases like TB. The MGIT system is also used for drug susceptibility testing to determine which antibiotics will be most effective against the identified strain.