The Recent Development in the Diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) remains a global health issue and continues to rank among the leading causes of death from infectious diseases worldwide. Its persistence is primarily attributed to the microorganism's challenging and time-consuming diagnosis and treatment, which drives the need for new diagnostic tests. The development of rapid, highly sensitive point-of-care (POC) tests is crucial, as these tests address the limitations of traditional methods, which are lengthy and exhibit low sensitivity. Early and rapid diagnostic tests ensure timely diagnoses and treatments for individuals while playing a pivotal role in preventing the spread of MTB and curbing societal transmission. These diagnostic tests significantly impact TB diagnosis and treatment, potentially breaking the chain of transmission and presenting a promising step toward combating the infection. Rapid and accurate diagnostic tests for MTB detection continue to attract significant attention in the literature and show promise for widespread application. However, they face challenges such as limited accessibility and usability, particularly in underdeveloped countries. The implementation of rapid tests requires careful consideration of time and resource efficiency compared with traditional tests. This study reviews the diagnostic tests developed for MTB detection, tracing their evolution from the past to the present.