MTB Complex Drug Susceptibility Grant

National Jewish Health Advanced Diagnostic Laboratories Awarded Grant to Evaluate Drug-Susceptibility Testing Methods for Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Complex

JANUARY 06, 2014

DENVER, CO — National Jewish Health Advanced Diagnostic Laboratories has been selected to evaluate first- and second-line drug-susceptibility testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC), the bacteria that cause tuberculosis (TB). The laboratories will evaluate two methods: the Indirect Agar Proportion and the BD BACTEC MGIT Mycobacterial Detection System. Advanced Diagnostic Laboratories is one of only three clinical laboratories in the country selected to participate in this research project alongside 12 public health laboratories. The project is sponsored by the Association of Public Health Laboratories (APHL) and the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Division of Tuberculosis Elimination.

“As national leader in the diagnosis and treatment of mycobacterial diseases, we are honored to participate in this important project that seeks to guide future discussions regarding standardization of testing methods and to identify potential avenues for research,” said Max Salfinger, MD, FIDSA, FAAM, Laboratory Director, Mycobacteriology and Pharmacokinetics at Advanced Diagnostics Laboratories.

Rapid and reliable drug-susceptibility testing (DST) is essential for aiding the clinician in selecting an optimal treatment regimen for TB patients and to prevent ongoing transmission of the disease. DST also is crucial for detecting primary or emerging resistance and for monitoring the prevalence of drug resistance among TB cases. To date, DST for MTBC has been a difficult procedure to standardize, especially among second-line anti-tuberculosis drugs.

About National Jewish Health Advanced Diagnostic Laboratories

National Jewish Health Advanced Diagnostic Laboratories is a clinical reference laboratory that translates science into personalized medicine. We provide unparalleled immune and respiratory disease expertise to our clinical, biotech, pharmaceutical and diagnostic partners. Collaborating with these organizations, we share our passion for science and develop new high quality laboratory tests that transform patient lives.

National Jewish Health is the leading respiratory hospital in the nation. Founded 124 years ago as a nonprofit hospital, National Jewish Health today is the only facility in the world dedicated exclusively to groundbreaking medical research and treatment of children and adults with respiratory, cardiac, immune and related disorders. Patients and families come to National Jewish Health from around the world to receive cutting-edge, comprehensive, coordinated care. To learn more, visit the media resources page.