Common challenges in laboratory diagnosis and management of tuberculosis

ABSTRACT

The history of tuberculosis [TB] traces back to antiquity. Despite significant progress of various diagnostic methods and introduction of anti-tuberculosis drugs in past decades, TB is still a major worldwide health concern which leads annually to two million deaths, especially after the emergence of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium TB and HIV co-infection. Presented here is a brief review of conventional and new TB diagnostic laboratory methods including their advantages and disadvantages as well as common challenges in diagnosis and management of TB