TB can be diagnosed from a sputum specimen.

TB can be diagnosed from a sputum specimen.

• A. Sputum specimen
• B. Blood sample
• C. Urine sample
• D. Fecal sample

Answer: (A)

Diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis relies on the sputum because the infection typically involves the lungs and the bacteria are shed into the respiratory secretions. A sputum sample can be examined directly for acid-fast bacilli under a microscope, cultured to grow Mycobacterium tuberculosis for definitive confirmation, or tested with rapid molecular methods that detect bacterial DNA and resistance markers. Other specimens like blood, urine, or stool aren’t routinely used to diagnose active pulmonary TB because they’re less reliable indicators of lung infection and won’t yield the organism consistently. Therefore, a sputum specimen is the appropriate diagnostic choice.

Diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis relies on the sputum because the infection typically involves the lungs and the bacteria are shed into the respiratory secretions. A sputum sample can be examined directly for acid-fast bacilli under a microscope, cultured to grow Mycobacterium tuberculosis for definitive confirmation, or tested with rapid molecular methods that detect bacterial DNA and resistance markers. Other specimens like blood, urine, or stool aren’t routinely used to diagnose active pulmonary TB because they’re less reliable indicators of lung infection and won’t yield the organism consistently. Therefore, a sputum specimen is the appropriate diagnostic choice.