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J Pediatr Infect Dis 2018; 13(02): 122-131
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1607232
Review Article
Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

The Clinician's Toolkit: Laboratory Tests in the Diagnosis of Childhood Tuberculosis Infection and Disease

Heather Young Highsmith
1   Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, Arkansas Children's Hospital, University of Arkansas for the Medical Sciences, Arkansas
2   Global TB Program, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
,
Anna Maria Mandalakas
2   Global TB Program, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
3   Section on Global and Immigrant Health, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, United States
› Author Affiliations
Further Information

Publication History

24 March 2017

02 May 2017

Publication Date:
27 October 2017 (online)

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Abstract

Smear microscopy and culture—the mainstay of tuberculosis (TB) diagnostics for the past century—fail to diagnose the majority of childhood TB cases. Promising new tests are becoming rapidly available, but their utility in childhood TB fails to surpass the accuracy of an astute clinician. In this review, we detail conventional and newer tests available for the diagnosis of TB infection and TB disease and their use in children, as well as potential others in development.

Keywords

Mycobacterium tuberculosis - latent tuberculosis - pulmonary tuberculosis - pediatrics
 

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