title: The mycobacteriology laboratory. Past, present, and future.
abstract: The role of the mycobacteriology laboratory in tuberculosis control programs has been underestimated in the past, but now laboratory services are proven to play an essential role if properly implemented. The importance and reliability of these services in the future will depend on their centralization in specialized mycobacteriology laboratories that will be able to put new technologies into practice. The shortest turnaround time and the greatest cost effectiveness can be achieved by direct submission of raw specimens to such laboratories, especially for the management of new tuberculosis patients.
authors.affiliation: Mycobacteriology Laboratory, National Jewish Center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine, Denver, Colorado, USA.
authors.forename: L B
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: Heifets
mesh_terms: D001432:Bacteriology / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends; D003906:Developing Countries; D005544:Forecasting; D049673:History, 20th Century; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000266:history / Q000639:trends; D009161:Mycobacterium; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology; D014481:United States