Tuberculosis

Microbiologist Sean Toney Analyzing a TB Specimen at the Centers for Disease Control, Public Health Image Library, CDC#

Public health laboratories test to identify tuberculosis quickly as it resurges in this country in new and virulent forms. Laboratories also test for resistant strains and perform universal genotyping that is useful for identifying outbreaks.

A decade of declining funding is compromising the infrastructure and preventing successful coordination between laboratories, controllers of the disease and clinicians.

Saved Topics: Infectious Diseases, Tuberculosis

TB Lab Assessment Tool

Assess Your TB Lab and Get Tips on Improving the Quality of Your Practices

In 1995 APHL (then know as the Association of State and Territorial Public Health Laboratory Directors) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention developed and published Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Assessing Your Laboratory, a tool designed to assist laboratories in the assessment of the quality of their laboratory’s TB diagnostic practices. This year APHL members and staff, in conjunction with CDC, clinical and commercial laboratorians have updated the content of the original tool to reflect the profound changes to TB diagnostics in the ensuing years. The content has been converted to the electronic tool that you are able to access here.

Core TB Lab Services

Core TB Laboratory Services for Public Health Laboratories

The APHL TB Steering Committee developed this report with the purpose of defining the TB laboratory services that Public Health Laboratories should provide or assure access to. It was designed for use by State Public Health Laboratories and Local Public Health Laboratories that offer TB services. Providing a basic set of services locally within each state laboratory should improve turnaround times and permit the laboratory to provide and retain the expertise to provide leadership and consultation within each state.

Future of TB Lab services

The Future of TB Laboratory Services – A Framework for Integration, Collaboration and Leadership

This report presents the conclusions of a task force commissioned by APHL and CDC to address critical TB laboratory issues and improve TB control by promoting the optimal use of laboratory services and effective information and tracking.

SeanToney CDC Microbiologist Loading Chromatography Species Identifier, Public Health Image Library, CDC#

TB Drug Susceptibility Testing

TB Drug Susceptibility Testing Expert Panel Consultation

Recent events have raised public awareness of the emergence of drug-resistant tuberculosis as a threat not only globally, but also domestically.

Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Bacteria Culture Plates Drug Susceptibility Test, Public Health Image Library, CDC#

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Tuberculosis

Contact

Kelly Wroblewski, MPH, MT(ASCP)

Public Health Lab Role

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WHO Report Finds High Rate of MDR-TB