**8. Features of desired TB diagnostic procedure**

Currently, the procedure includes medical history, physical examination, chest radiography, TST, serologic tests (e.g. IGRA), microbiologic smear (e.g. ZN), and culture [59].

**Author details**

Athumani Msalale Lupindu<sup>1</sup>

\*Address all correspondence to: amsalale@yahoo.com

Abubakar Shaaban Hoza3

Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

10.1183/09031936.00120908

1371/journal.pmed.1002152

NEJMra1405427

Organization; 2017

Tanzania

**References**

\*, Erasto Vitus Mbugi2

Biomedical Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania

2 Department of Biochemistry, Muhimbili University of Health and Allied Sciences,

3 Department of Veterinary Microbiology, Parasitology and Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, Sokoine University of Agriculture, Morogoro,

[1] WHO. Global Tuberculosis Report 2017. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2017

[2] Mack U, Migliori GB, Sester M, Rieder HL, Ehlers S, Goletti D, et al. LTBI: Latent tuberculosis infection or lasting immune responses to *M. tuberculosis*? A TBNET consensus statement for the TBNET. European Respiratory Journal. 2009;**33**:956-973. DOI:

[3] Houben RMGJ, Dodd PJ. The global burden of latent tuberculosis infection: A reestimation using mathematical modelling. PLoS Medicine. 2016;**13**:e1002152. DOI: 10.

[4] Getahun H, Matteelli A, Chaisson RE, Raviglione M. Latent *Mycobacterium tuberculosis* infection. The New England Journal of Medicine. 2015;**372**:2127-2135. DOI: 10.1056/

[5] Pai M, Denkinger CM, Kik SV, Rangaka MX, Zwerling A, Oxlade O, et al. Gamma interferon release assays for detection of *Mycobacterium tuberculosis* infection. Clinical

[6] Olea-Popelka F, Muwonge A, Perera A, Dean AS, Mumford E, Erlacher-Vindel E, et al. Zoonotic tuberculosis in human beings caused by *Mycobacterium bovis*—A call for action. The Lancet Infectious Diseases. 2017;**17**:e21-e25. DOI: 10.1016/S1473-3099(16)30139-6 [7] WHO. Gear up to End TB: Introducing the End TB Strategy. Geneva: World Health

[8] Sandhu G, Battaglia F, Ely BK, Athanasakis D, Montoya R, Valencia T, et al. Discriminating active from latent tuberculosis in patients presenting to community clinics. PLoS One.

Microbiology Reviews. 2014;**27**:3-20. DOI: 10.1128/CMR.00034-13

2012;**7**:e38080. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0038080

1 Department of Veterinary Medicine and Public Health, College of Veterinary Medicine and

, Jahash Nzalawahe3

Paralleling of Diagnostic Endeavor for Control of Mycobacterial Infections and Tuberculosis

and

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.77316

15

The distinction between and transition from LTBI to active TB as well as differentiation of stages of active TB toward recovery are attributes of a nearly perfect TB diagnostic procedure. This should be coupled with the ability to detect early stages of the TB related health status and a short time to diagnosis. Applicability and convenience of diagnostic (set of) procedures in all life settings are factors to consider when planning a TB diagnostic package. It is not easy to find the majority of these merits in one procedure but a combination of both conventional and molecular tools starting from screening to diagnosis can facilitate the mission of fighting TB.
