CULTURED AFB ANTITUBERCULAR DST, 19 DRUGS PANEL

THIS TEST IDENTIFIES THE PRESENCE OF MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS (M. TUBERCULOSIS), THE BACTERIA THAT CAUSES TUBERCULOSIS (TB), IN A SPUTUM SAMPLE. IT ALSO DETERMINES THE SPECIFIC DRUGS TO WHICH THE BACTERIA ARE SENSITIVE, ALLOWING FOR THE MOST EFFECTIVE TREATMENT PLAN. THE TEST INVOLVES CULTURING THE BACTERIA FROM THE SPUTUM SAMPLE AND THEN TESTING ITS SUSCEPTIBILITY TO 19 DIFFERENT ANTI-TUBERCULAR DRUGS. THIS INFORMATION IS CRUCIAL FOR TAILORING TREATMENT TO THE SPECIFIC STRAIN OF TB, IMPROVING PATIENT OUTCOMES, AND PREVENTING THE SPREAD OF DRUG-RESISTANT TB.