Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Antibody Test (TB)

Tuberculosis is a chronic, communicable disease caused principally by M. TB hominis (Koch’s bacillus), occasionally by M. TB bovis. The lungs are the primary target, but any organ may be infected. The risk of TB infection has exponentially declined in the 20th century. However, the recent emergence of drug-resistant strains, particularly among patients with AIDS 2, has rekindled interest in TB. The incidence of infection was reported around 8 million cases per year with a death rate of 3 million per year. The mortality exceeded 50% in some African countries with high HIV rates . The initial clinical suspicion and radiographic findings, with subsequent laboratory confirmation by sputum examination and culture are the traditional method(s) in the diagnosis of active TB. Recently, serological detection of active TB has been the subject of a number of investigations, particularly for patients who are unable to produce adequate sputum, or smear-negative, or suspected to have extrapulmonary TB. The TB Ab Combo Rapid Test kit can detect antibodies including IgM, IgG and IgA anti- M.TB in less than 10 min. The test can be performed by untrained or minimally skilled personnel, without cumbersome laboratory equipment.