Cellular Laboratory

Case Study

Tuberculosis

The doctor considered asking the microbiology department to see if they could culture the tuberculosis bacterium from the patients sputum, but had heard that the relatively new ELISPOT test performed by the immunology laboratory gives a more accurate and speedy result. A healthcare scientist in the immunology department performed the test by measuring the response of the patient’s immune system cells to inactive components of the TB microorganism. The test result was positive, confirming the doctor’s suspicion of TB.

What action might you expect the doctor to take given the positive diagnosis in this schoolchild?

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