Division Laboratory criteria

Laboratory criteria for case confirmation

At least one of the following two:

• Isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (excluding Mycobacterium bovis-BCG) from a clinical specimen

• Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex nucleic acid in a clinical specimen AND positive microscopy for acid-fast bacilli or equivalent fluorescent staining bacilli on light microscopy

Laboratory criteria for a probable case

At least one of the following three:

• Microscopy for acid-fast bacilli or equivalent fluorescent staining bacilli on light microscopy

• Detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex nucleic acid in a clinical specimen

• Histological appearance of granulomata