Published in TB and Outbreaks Week, September 14th, 2004
In a recent study, scientists in Pakistan "evaluated FASTPlaqueTB, a recently introduced bacteriophage assay for rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in sputum specimens, using 169 non-duplicate sputum specimens" from suspected pulmonary tuberculosis patients.
"The results of 160 specimens were analyzed," noted T. Butt and coauthors at the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology in Rawalpindi. "FASTPlaqueTB assay detected tuberculosis in 77% (46/60) of culture-positive cases."
"Among the AFB smear-positive cases...
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