Method |
Limitation |
Method |
Limitation |
Histology |
Cell granulomatosis indistinguishable |
Phenotypic methods |
Time consuming, does not allow |
|
from Tb |
-Biochemical testing |
identification of the newly described |
|
|
|
species |
Smear microscopy |
NTM not distinguishable from Mtb |
Chemotaxonomical methods |
Not available in all clinical laboratories |
|
|
-HPLC of mycolic acids |
|
Nucleic acid amplification test |
Using for excluding Mtb |
Direct probe hybridization assay |
Limited number of species |
-Commercial NAAT |
|
|
|
Real-time PCR |
Low sensitivity, limited range of species |
Line probe assay |
Limited number of species |
– in-house methods |
|
-Commercial test |
|
Serological testing |
Cross-reactivity |
16S DNA sequencing |
Limited discriminatory power |
|
|
Multigene sequencing |
Expensive, not available in clinical |
|
|
-Whole genome sequencing |
laboratories |
|
|
|
Highly trained staff |
|
|
MALDI-TOF MS |
Database content; quality of protein extracts |