Use the Nucleic Acid Amplification Test to Identify Tuberculosis Patients Sooner

Tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment will continue to create confusion...due to newer tests, drug interactions, adverse reactions, etc.

We know to isolate hospitalized patients who may have TB (cough for 3 weeks, night sweats, hemoptysis, etc)...and send three sputum specimens for acid-fast bacilli and Mycobacterium tuberculosis cultures.

Make sure a newer test called nucleic acid amplification is also ordered. It is better at identifying TB versus other forms of Mycobacterium...can help detect possible TB sooner...and can help get patients out of isolation earlier.