Sensititre MycoTB plate compared to Bactec MGIT 960 for first- and second-line antituberculosis drug susceptibility testing in Tanzania: a call to operationalize MICs.

MIC testing for Mycobacterium tuberculosis is now commercially available. Drug susceptibility testing by the MycoTB MIC plate has not been directly compared to that by the Bactec MGIT 960. We describe a case of extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB) in Tanzania where initial MIC testing may have prevented acquired resistance.

Simultaneous detection of six diarrhea-causing bacterial pathogens with an in-house PCR-luminex assay.

Diarrhea can be caused by a range of pathogens, including several bacteria. Conventional diagnostic methods, such as culture, biochemical tests, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), are laborious. We developed a 7-plex PCR-Luminex assay to simultaneously screen for several of the major diarrhea-causing bacteria directly in fecal specimens, including pathogenic Aeromonas, Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, Salmonella, Shigella, enteroinvasive Escherichia coli (EIEC), Vibrio, and Yersinia.

Multiplex reverse transcription PCR Luminex assay for detection and quantitation of viral agents of gastroenteritis.

Background: Several viruses can cause diarrheal disease, a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Existing diagnostic methods include ELISA and nucleic acid amplification, usually performed individually.

Objectives: (1) To develop a multiplexed assay for simultaneous detection of major enteric viral pathogens.