CIDRZ has conducted research of novel TB diagnostic tools including LED fluorescence microscopes, urinary lipoarabinomannan (LAM) and computer-assisted digital x-ray interpretation technology. We have also conducted U.S. National Institutes of Health-funded Adult AIDS Clinical Trials Group research trying to improve strategies to manage TB/HIV co-infected patients, and will be part of the 2014 AERAS-funded TB vaccine trial.

The CIDRZ Mycobacteriology Laboratory supports our research efforts. This regional reference facility has both culture and molecular diagnostic capacity processing up to 16,000 primary specimens per year.

Diagnostic modalities available include: fluorescence and Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) smear microscopy, liquid (MGIT 960) and solid (LJ) culture, line probe assay for rapid identification of mycobacterium and drug susceptibility testing, blood culture capacity, and first and second line drug susceptibility testing using liquid culture as well as Gene Xpert MTB/RIF.