DefinePK

Abstract

INTRODUCFION


In order to support a “Tuberculosis Con­trol Programme”, an adequate laboratory service must be guaranteed. This should include peripheral laboratories capable of preparing and examining smears for acid fast bacilli (AFB) and one “Re­ferral Laboratory” providing facilities for culture, identification and drug sensitivity tests for my. cobacteria.
The direct examination of sputum.smears represents the most important tool for detecting patients with tuberculosis, in order to control the spread of disease in the community.1 However, to improve case-finding, especially when no AFB are found in direct smears, when a failure or relapse occurs during treatment and/or drug-resistance is suspected, culture of the sputum and drug-susceptibility tests should be perfor­med2,3.
Although laboratory procedures for the study of Mycobacterium tuberculosis as well as non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) have been already established and detailed in several pub­lications3-7 in organizing a laboratory service for a “Tuberculosis Control Programme” several rules must be emphasized.