Misdiagnoses of Tuberculosis Resulting From Laboratory Cross-Contamination of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis Cultures--New Jersey, 1998

Article Abstract:

Many people may be mistakenly diagnosed with tuberculosis because they are infected with a strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis called H37Ra. Although Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, this particular strain is harmless. However, it is routinely used in medical laboratories for testing purposes. If it is processed at the same time as medical specimens from patients, it can contaminate those specimens. The patient would be mistakenly diagnosed with tuberculosis. Only DNA fingerprinting can distinguish the harmless strain from the pathological strains.

Causes of, Diagnostic errors, Contamination, Diagnostic specimens

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The Case Against Anergy Testing as a Routine Adjunct to Tuberculin Skin Testing

Article Abstract:

Anergy testing is not very useful in diagnosing tuberculosis. Anergy testing means a doctor tests patients for their reaction to certain antigens. This is usually done by a series of skin tests. The tuberculin test is one such test, and it is used to test for tuberculosis. However, it is only 50% to 95% accurate. Many patients with tuberculosis may have a negative TB test but may react to other antigens. Based on the results of the anergy test, the doctor may mistakenly conclude that the patient does not have TB.

Testing, Immune response

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Evaluation of a Risk Assessment Questionnaire Used to Target Tuberculin Skin Testing in Children

Article Abstract:

The New York City Department of Health has developed a questionnaire that can detect children who should be tested for tuberculosis. The questionnaire identifies risk factors such as contact with a tuberculosis case, birth in or travel to foreign countries, regular contact with high-risk adults, and HIV infection in the child. Six percent of children with at least one risk factor tested positive for tuberculosis compared to 0.2% of those with no risk factors.

Questionnaires, Tuberculosis in children, Pediatric respiratory diseases

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