Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex PCR, tissue
Test Mnemonic
MTPCRT
CPT Codes
- 87556 - QTY (1)
- 87496 - QTY (1)
Aliases
- M. tuberculosis PCR, tissue
- TB PCR, tissue
Performing Laboratory
University of Washington Molecular Microbiology
Days Performed
Mon - Fri
Turnaround Time
2 - 3 weeks
Methodology
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) |
Reference Range
Special Info
Specimen source must be included.
Clinical Info
Although an acid fast smear can provide an important clue to the nature of the causative agent, a positive result does not necessarily indicate the presence of M. tuberculosis complex. The presence of acid fast bacilli in clinical specimens can be simply due to the growth of common water contaminants such as M. chelonae and M. fortuitum. On the other hand, a negative smear does not rule out the presence of M. tuberculosis complex at low pathogen load. The use of PCR to detect this DNA extracted directly from clinical specimens facilitates the identification of these pathogens.