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Article Type

Original Study

Abstract

Objective The aim of this study was to assess the value of serum lipoarabinomannan (LAM) in the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). Background The accurate diagnosis of TB is difficult. Recent studies indicate that a LAM assay (ELISA) may have some utility in the diagnosis of TB. Material and methods Sera from 40 individuals with confirmed pulmonary TB and 20 healthy individuals were tested for the presence of LAM by means of ELISA assay. Culture positivity for Mycobacterium tuberculosis was used as the reference standard for TB diagnosis. Results The serum LAM ELISA test showed high positivity in confirmed TB patients; sputum smear combined with LAM diagnosed 95% of the confirmed cases; tuberculin skin test, elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate, immunocompetent state, and radiological tests have shown significant differences from qualitative and quantitative serum LAM. Serum LAM sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were 90, 100, 93.3, 100, and 83.3%, respectively. Conclusion The LAM test is a simple and reliable test for the diagnosis of pulmonary TB.

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