Tuberculosis

When should the test be performed?
The culture on Löwenstein-Jensen medium is a standard microbiological test used for the isolation and identification of acid-fast bacilli, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Indications for performing the test include:

• Chronic cough and hemoptysis
• Prolonged fever of unknown origin
• Weight loss, fatigue
• Suspected pulmonary or extrapulmonary tuberculosis
• Monitoring the effectiveness of anti-tuberculosis treatment

Test description
Löwenstein-Jensen medium is widely recognized as the gold standard in tuberculosis diagnostics. Due to its high sensitivity and specificity, it allows for effective isolation of mycobacteria from clinical samples, which is crucial for confirming infection and initiating appropriate treatment.

• The test is performed on specimens such as sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, biopsies, body fluids, and other tissue samples suspected of infection
• The culture procedure involves inoculating the sample onto selective medium and incubating it under conditions optimal for mycobacterial growth
• Incubation time ranges from several days to up to 8 weeks due to the slow-growing nature of Mycobacterium tuberculosis