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MTB First Line Drug Sensitivity SIREP Test: Booking, Price, and Results

About MTB First Line Drug Sensitivity SIREP Test: Booking, Price, and Results

Field	Value
Also Known As	TB Sensitivity 1st Line SIREP Test, MTB DST First Line, TB Drug Susceptibility Test (First Line), Tuberculosis First Line Drug Sensitivity Test
Sample Type	Ascitic fluid (sterile container)
Fasting Required	No fasting required
Report Time	29 days
Recommended For	All ages and genders with confirmed or suspected TB; patients with treatment failure or relapse
Price	Starting at ₹6,300

What is a MTB First Line Drug Sensitivity SIREP Test?

The MTB First Line Drug Sensitivity SIREP test checks whether the bacteria that cause tuberculosis (TB) respond to the five main anti-TB drugs. The acronym SIREP stands for Streptomycin, Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Ethambutol, and Pyrazinamide — the five drugs tested. Doctors order this test to find out which medicines will actually work for a given patient. It is also known as the TB Drug Susceptibility Test (First Line) or the MTB DST First Line test.

What Does a MTB First Line Drug Sensitivity SIREP Test Measure?

This test exposes the TB bacteria from your sample to each of the five first-line drugs. The result tells your doctor whether the bacteria are sensitive (the drug works) or resistant (the drug does not work) to each medicine. The five drugs tested are listed below:

Drug	Role in TB Treatment
Streptomycin (S)	Kills TB bacteria by blocking their ability to make proteins
Isoniazid (I)	Attacks the TB bacterium's cell wall; one of the most powerful anti-TB medicines
Rifampicin (R)	Stops the bacterium from producing genetic material; a key treatment drug
Ethambutol (E)	Slows bacterial growth by disrupting cell wall development
Pyrazinamide (P)	Highly effective in the first two months of treatment; works in areas of acute inflammation

Why is a MTB First Line Drug Sensitivity SIREP Test Done?

This test is ordered when a doctor needs to confirm which anti-TB drugs will be effective for a patient. Knowing the resistance pattern early helps guide treatment and prevents the spread of drug-resistant TB.

Common Symptoms That May Require This Test

A doctor may order this test when a patient shows the following signs:

Persistent cough lasting three weeks or longer
Coughing up sputum or blood (haemoptysis)
Chest pain during breathing or coughing
Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite
Night sweats and persistent fever
Extreme fatigue and general weakness

Conditions This Test Can Help Detect

This test helps identify the following conditions:

Multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB): resistance to both rifampicin and isoniazid, the two most effective first-line drugs
Mono-drug resistant TB: resistance to only one first-line drug
Poly-drug resistant TB: resistance to more than one first-line drug, but not meeting the MDR-TB definition
Treatment failure or relapse caused by an inadequate drug regimen

MTB First Line Drug Sensitivity SIREP Test for Chronic Disease Monitoring

Patients already on TB treatment may need this test repeated if their condition is not improving.

If a sputum sample remains positive at the end of the third month of treatment, drug susceptibility testing is recommended to detect resistance early and prevent waiting until the fifth month to adjust therapy.

Patients who experience relapse after completing treatment also benefit from repeated testing to identify any newly acquired resistance.

How to Prepare and What to Expect

No complex preparation is needed for this test, but following a few simple steps helps ensure a reliable result.

Do You Need to Fast?

No, fasting is not required before this test. There are no dietary restrictions prior to sample collection.

Practical Tips Before Your Test

The following steps will help you prepare for sample collection:

Bring a detailed clinical history, including your symptoms, previous test results, and family history, as this is required for the test.
Inform your doctor about all medications you are currently taking and any underlying medical conditions or allergies.
If providing sputum, rinse your mouth with plain water before producing the sample to reduce contamination.
Collect a sputum sample early in the morning, when bacterial concentration is highest.
Ensure the sample is deep cough sputum from the lungs, not saliva.

Step-by-Step Procedure

Here is what to expect during sample collection and processing:

Your doctor or a trained phlebotomist will explain which type of sample is required (ascitic fluid, sputum, tissue, or a pure MTB culture isolate).
For ascitic fluid, a trained clinician collects the fluid using a sterile procedure at a Lupin Diagnostics centre. A minimum of 5 mL is required, collected in a sterile white container.
The sealed sample is stored under refrigeration (2 to 8 degrees Celsius) and transported to the laboratory promptly to maintain sample integrity.
In the laboratory, the sample undergoes processing to isolate TB bacteria from other material present in the sample.
The isolated bacteria are cultured using an automated fluorescent method, which allows the TB bacteria to grow in controlled conditions.
Each of the five first-line drugs is then applied to the growing culture at standardised concentrations, and bacterial growth is monitored to determine sensitivity or resistance for each drug. Results are available within 29 days.

Factors That Can Affect Accuracy

The following factors may influence the reliability of your test result:

Insufficient sample volume or poor sample quality
Contamination of the sample with bacteria other than MTB
Delays in sample transport or improper storage temperature
Previous or incomplete courses of anti-TB treatment
HIV infection, which can make standard sample assessment less reliable, making culture-based testing essential

Understanding Your MTB First Line Drug Sensitivity SIREP Test Results

Results from the MTB First Line Drug Sensitivity SIREP test indicate whether the TB bacteria in your sample are sensitive or resistant to each of the five drugs tested. A qualified doctor should always review these results in the context of your overall health and treatment history.

Drug	Sensitive Result	Resistant Result
Streptomycin	Drug is effective against your TB strain	Drug is not effective; dose adjustment or alternative needed
Isoniazid	Drug is effective against your TB strain	Drug is not effective; regimen review required
Rifampicin	Drug is effective against your TB strain	Drug is not effective; MDR-TB evaluation needed
Ethambutol	Drug is effective against your TB strain	Drug is not effective; alternative drug required
Pyrazinamide	Drug is effective against your TB strain	Drug is not effective; regimen modification needed

Disclaimer: These ranges are general guidelines. Your doctor will interpret your results based on your age, health history, and other factors. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for personalised medical advice.

Results During Special Conditions

Certain circumstances can affect how results are interpreted.

HIV-positive patients have a significantly higher likelihood of drug-resistant TB. Among patients who experience treatment failure, the proportion with MDR-TB is considerably higher in those who are HIV-positive, making early and thorough drug susceptibility testing especially important in this group.

Patients with a history of previous TB treatment or incomplete treatment courses carry a much greater risk of drug resistance. Close contact with a known MDR-TB case also increases the probability of resistant infection and should be reported to the doctor when the test is ordered.

How to Maintain Healthy Levels

The following general wellness practices support TB treatment outcomes:

Complete the full course of anti-TB medication exactly as prescribed, even if symptoms improve before treatment ends.
Take all medications at the same time each day to maintain consistent drug levels in the body.
Eat a nutritious diet and get adequate rest to support your immune system during treatment.

Lupin Diagnostics MTB First Line Drug Sensitivity SIREP Test Price

The MTB First Line Drug Sensitivity SIREP test cost at Lupin Diagnostics starts at ₹6,300. This test requires a visit to a Lupin Diagnostics centre; home collection is not available for this test due to the specialised nature of sample collection.

City	Approximate Price (₹)
BHOPAL	6300
CHENNAI	6300
HYDERABAD	6300
NAVI MUMBAI	6300
PUNE	6300

Disclaimer: Prices are indicative and may vary by location. Please confirm the current price at the time of booking.

How to Book

Follow these steps to book your MTB First Line Drug Sensitivity SIREP test online:

Select the test on the Lupin Diagnostics website.
Choose your city and preferred centre location.
Visit the centre at your scheduled time for sample collection.
Receive your report via email or WhatsApp within the stipulated turnaround time.

Frequently Asked Questions

SIREP is an acronym for the five first-line anti-TB drugs tested: Streptomycin, Isoniazid, Rifampicin, Ethambutol, and Pyrazinamide. Each letter in SIREP corresponds to one of these medicines. Together, they form the core of standard TB treatment.

TB bacteria can develop resistance to medicines, especially if treatment is incomplete or delayed. The MTB First Line Drug Sensitivity SIREP test identifies which drugs are still effective, allowing your doctor to choose the right treatment quickly. Early detection of resistance improves treatment success and reduces the risk of spreading drug-resistant TB to others.

The report is available within 29 days at Lupin Diagnostics. This is because the test requires the TB bacteria to grow in a laboratory culture before drug sensitivity can be assessed. The automated fluorescent method used is reliable and widely accepted for this type of testing.

At Lupin Diagnostics, the sample required is ascitic fluid (fluid collected from the abdominal cavity), collected in a sterile container. In other laboratory settings, sputum, tissue, body fluid, or a pure MTB culture isolate may also be used, depending on the clinical situation.

A resistant result means the TB bacteria in your sample do not respond to one or more of the five drugs tested. This does not mean TB cannot be treated. Your doctor will review the resistance pattern and adjust your treatment plan accordingly. Drug-resistant TB can be treated with alternative medicines, though the regimen may differ from standard first-line therapy.

This test is recommended for patients with confirmed TB who are not responding to standard treatment, those experiencing relapse after completing a treatment course, close contacts of known drug-resistant TB cases, people living with HIV who develop TB, and healthcare workers with known TB exposure. Your doctor will advise whether this test is appropriate based on your clinical situation.