Mycobacteria Testing

RRDA offers Mycobacteria testing on appropriate specimens to detect acid-fast bacilli.

• Histological examination of a biopsy will often suggest the diagnosis.
• Acid-fast staining (e.g. Ziehl-Neelsen) and auramine staining for microscopy.
• PCR amplification in appropriate specimens
• Culture in/on appropriate media (e.g. Lowenstein-Jensen or Middlebrook).

Rapid growers (e.g. M. fortuitum) may grow in 1-2 weeks but 6-8 weeks of incubation are required before discarding negative cultures. Identification of mycobacteria and antibiotic susceptibility testing take another 4 weeks using conventional techniques. Radiometric culture combined with gene probe (for identification) considerably reduces the time required for testing.