Tuberculosis

Tuberculosis ( 35 Questions)

A nurse is caring for a client with suspected tuberculosis (TB) who has provided sputum samples for testing. Which laboratory test is used to confirm the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum samples?


Correct Answer: B

A) Incorrect. A complete blood count (CBC) may reveal abnormalities associated with TB, but it does not directly confirm the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum samples.

B) Correct. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is a molecular test that can detect the genetic material of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum samples, providing a confirmatory diagnosis.

C) Incorrect. The tuberculin skin test (TST) is a screening test for TB infection, not a test for confirming active disease in sputum samples.

D) Incorrect. Gram stain is a laboratory technique used to visualize the characteristics of bacterial cells but is not specific for Mycobacterium tuberculosis.




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