Clinical Evaluation of Gen-Probe's Amplified Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Direct Test for Rapid Diagnosis of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis in Egyptian Children at Risk for Infection (Report‪)‬

Childhood tuberculosis (TB) has its highest incidence among children in contact with bacilliferous adults. (1,2) The present study was motivated by the increase in the number of TB cases that are being observed in children. Traditional laboratory diagnosis of mycobacterial infections by culture usually requires 2 to 8 weeks. The recent increase in new cases of TB has shown the need for rapid, specific, diagnostic assays for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. (3) With the development of novel techniques in molecular biology, this delay might be shortened. Most of the nucleic acid amplification assays are rapid and specific. (4)