Mycobacteriology

In the Mycobacterial laboratory, the main activities include:

• Primary isolation service including microscopy and culture;
• Rapid molecular test (MTB/RIF GeneXpert) service for the detection of M. tuberculosis complex and rifampicin (and multidrug) resistance for respiratory specimen (7:00 to 22:00, 7/7days);
• Molecular test targeting the IS 6110 for the detection of M. tuberculosis complex in non-respiratory specimen as well as direct rifampicin (rpoB gene) and isoniazid (katG and inhA genes) resistance;
• PCR and sequencing based rapid identification of mycobacterium sp isolates;
• Drug susceptibility testing for first line drugs;
• Fast delivery of the strain to the Swiss Reference Laboratory in Zürich if a second line drugs susceptibility test is needed.