Diagnosis: the role of molecular technology in sub-Saharan Africa.
Abstract
The background to and brief details of the investigation into the role of nucleic acid amplification (NAA) technology for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in the routine diagnostic setting of a developing country with a high incidence of HIV (Zambia) are presented. The technology was assessed at two different levels of the health care system, a specialist referral laboratory and a rural district hospital. A commercial kit and a low-cost 'in-house' polymerase chain reaction (PCR) were evaluated for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis from sputum specimens. Recommendations resulting from the investigation, a summary of the major findings, collaborators and key publications are also provided.
Citation
BRIEFING NOTES Issue No 000001 October 2001. TB Knowledge Programme, UK. 2 pp.
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