Impact of a<i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i>-specific interferon-γ release assay in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid for a rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis

Abstract

None of the microbiological or immunological methods that aim to provide a rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis whilst waiting the confirmation of the M. tuberculosis culture results is on its own accurate enough to diagnose or exclude pulmonary tuberculosis. Negative sputum microscopy and M. tuberculosis-specific NAAT results should prompt bronchoscopy including BAL for M. tuberculosis-specific IGRA in individuals with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis.