Direct evidence of diagnosis
Changes in the x-ray and a positive Mantoux test allow one to suspect tuberculosis, but the diagnosis is confirmed only by the detection of the pathogen itself. The study is carried out in cases of cough lasting more than three weeks, hemoptysis, prolonged low-grade fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss, as well as in contact with a patient with tuberculosis and if changes are detected on fluorography. The material most often is sputum collected on three consecutive days. Detection of the pathogen not only confirms the diagnosis, but also determines the infectiousness of the patient to others, and determining sensitivity to drugs is critically important due to the spread of drug-resistant forms. Tuberculosis is a disease that requires treatment by a phthisiatrician in a specialized institution.
How to prepare to donate blood
- on an empty stomach 8–12 hours, you can drink water
- Eliminate alcohol and intense exercise per day
- no smoking in an hour
- donate blood before physiotherapy, x-rays and massage
- Take medications in advance by agreeing with your doctor
How to read the result
Reference values depend on the method and equipment of the laboratory, so it is correct to compare results only within the same laboratory. A deviation of a few percent from the normal limit in itself rarely matters - the overall picture and dynamics are important.
The analysis must be interpreted by a doctor: an isolated indicator without a clinical context is often misleading and leads to unnecessary examinations.