Mycobacteriology Training Modules

Presenter: Mary DeMartino
This module covers safe work practices related to procedures involved in mycobacteriology testing.
Resources
Laboratory Biosafety: Work practices for Mycobacterium tuberculosis - PDF version
Disinfecting the work space
How to perform a Fit Test
MMWR - Guidelines for Biosafety
Time (in minutes) to remove aerosols from the laboratory

Presenter: Mary DeMartino
This modules discussed pre-analytic factors contributing to specimen quality that impact patient diagnosis and treatment. The content compares collection, storage and transport of different specimen types (e.g., respiratory and non-respiratory) and explains the principles of specimen processing.

Presenter: Julie Tans-Kersten
This modules discusses principles of AFB staining techniques, fluorescence microscopy, and accurate identification and grading of AFB in smears.
Resources
AFB Smear Microscopy - PDF version
Wet Lab for AFB Smear Microscopy

Presenter: Tracy Stiles
This module offers a basic introduction to the practices and principles for mycobacterial culture, identification of mycobacteria, and growth-based drug susceptibility testing.

Presenter: Tracy Stiles
This module describes the importance of mycobacterial culture, best practices for using solid and liquid media, results reporting and addressing common issues such as contamination.

Presenter: Julie Tans-Kersten
This module discusses classical and emerging methods for identification of mycobacteria, including advantages, limitations, and the importance of accurate and quality results.

Presenter: Julie Tans-Kersten
This module provides background on drug resistance and culture-based drug susceptibility testing methods. It covers turnaround times and results reporting, discordant results, and practices to ensure quality.

Presenter: Amanda Bruesch
This module will provide a brief overview of the basics of molecular testing methods and will cover 4 areas: Principles of Molecular Biology, Applying the Concepts of Molecular Biology, Workflow, Contamination, Safety, and Regulation and Considerations for TB Molecular Testing.
Resources
Molecular Biology 101 - PDF Version

Presenter: Amanda Bruesch
This module will provide a brief overview of the basics of molecular testing methods and will cover 4 areas: Principles of Molecular Biology, Applying the Concepts of Molecular Biology, Workflow, Contamination, Safety, and Regulation and Considerations for TB Molecular Testing.

Presenter: Amanda Bruesch
This module will cover the direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) in clinical specimens as well as the identification of MTB complex and other mycobacteria from culture.

Presenter: Ed Desmond
This module will cover major mechanisms of drug resistance and the molecular methods used to detect the markers of drug resistance in Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

Presenter: Amanda Bruesch
This module will provide TB Control Staff, Clinicians, and nurses a brief overview of basic principles of molecular technology and test platforms used for molecular testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis as a basis for understanding how mutations are associated with drug resistance and what reporting language might be used to describe resistance results.

In this module, laboratorians are provided an opportunity to navigate through five real-world cases in which a false-positive Mycobacterium tuberculosis result may have been reported. The scenarios include examples of pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical processes. Participants will use this interactive module to help identify and investigate potential false-positive results.

This module will help participants including public health nurses and TB care and prevention team members improve their understanding of fundamental TB laboratory testing workflows, testing methods, and associated results. Being familiar with this information will aid effective and timely communication with the patient, clinician, and testing laboratory..