TB Sensitivity (Ciprofloxacin) Test

Tuberculosis is a lung affecting disease caused by bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The symptoms include breathing difficulty, chest pain, coughing blood, and in most cases the disease is fatal. The disease is controlled using a variety of antibiotics, one of them being Ciprofloxacin. The Culture and Sensitivity Test (Culturing bacteria and testing their sensitivity to various antibiotics) is used to assess the resistance of the bacterium affecting a patient. It is a helpful tool to analyse the necessary further treatment of the patient.

No special preparation is needed. Inform the doctor of any medications being taken by the patient. Follow any other instructions provided by the medical experts.

Based on the reaction to the antibiotics, the bacteria will be assessed as one of the following: Ciprofloxacin resistant: the species affecting the patient is resistant to Ciprofloxacin and the drug cannot be used to control the infection. Further medications will be provided.

Ciprofloxacin susceptible: the species affecting the patient is not resistant to Ciprofloxacin and the drug can be used to control the infection.

The specimen taken for culturing can be sputum, blood or tissue. For tuberculosis, the most common is sputum.

The patient's sputum will be collected in a tube and transported to the laboratory. A sample of the sputum will be cultured on a nutrient medium. The growth of bacterial colonies will be observed. The colonies will be treated to Ciprofloxacin and the effect will be assessed.