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Lipoarabinomannin Test for TB
### Title
Lipoarabinomannin Test for Tuberculosis
### Test Description
The Lipoarabinomannin (LAM) test is a diagnostic tool used to detect active tuberculosis (TB) by identifying the presence of mycobacterial lipoarabinomannan antigen in urine. This test is particularly beneficial in cases where the sputum smear result is negative in a probable TB patient and in severely ill patients, regardless of their HIV infection status, from whom it is difficult to collect sputum physically[1].
### Indications of the Test
The LAM test is especially helpful in diagnosing TB in individuals with negative sputum smear results and in severely ill patients, particularly those with HIV, from whom it is challenging to collect sputum. It is also recommended for use in low- or middle-income countries where access to special laboratory equipment is limited[5].
### Patient Preparation/Instructions
No specific patient preparation is required for the LAM test. It involves the collection of a urine sample, which is a noninvasive and convenient process.
### Typical Reference Values
The typical reference values for the LAM test are the presence or absence of the lipoarabinomannan antigen in the urine sample. A positive result indicates the presence of the antigen, suggesting active TB infection.
### Turnaround Time
The LAM test is a rapid point-of-care test that can provide results in as little as 25 minutes[5].
### Order This Test
You can order the Lipoarabinomannin Test for Tuberculosis by clicking the “Order Test” button and adding it to your cart.
Citations:
[1] Utility of urine lipoarabinomannan (LAM) in diagnosing tuberculosis and predicting mortality with and without HIV: prospective TB cohort from the Thailand Big City TB Research Network https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1201971217301297
[2] Lateral flow urine lipoarabinomannan assay (LF-LAM) for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis in people living with HIV, 2019 Update https://www.who.int/publications-detail-redirect/9789241550604
[3] Diagnosing tuberculosis with urine lipoarabinomannan: systematic review and meta-analysis https://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/6/1398
[4] Point-Of-Care Urine LAM Tests for Tuberculosis Diagnosis: A Status Update https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7020089/
[5] Lateral flow urine lipoarabinomannan assay for detecting active tuberculosis in people living with HIV https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6802713/
