Autofluorescence of mycobacteria as a tool for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

The diagnosis of tuberculosis in developing countries still relies on direct sputum examination by light microscopy, a method that is easy to perform and that is widely applied. However, because of its poor sensitivity and requirement for significant labor and training, light microscopy examination detects the bacilli in only 45 to 60% of all people whose specimens are culture positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Therefore, new diagnostic methods that would enable the detection of the undiagnosed infected population and allow the early commencement of antituberculosis treatment are needed.