MTB Susceptibility – Clofazimine Test: Booking, Price, and Results
About MTB Susceptibility – Clofazimine Test: Booking, Price, and Results
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Also Known As | Clofazimine Antibiogram, CFZ Susceptibility Test, AFB Antibiogram – Clofazimine, MTB-CFZ DST |
| Sample Type | Sputum, pure culture or other clinical specimens (including ascitic fluid, BAL, bone marrow, CSF, pus, urine, tissue and others) |
| Fasting Required | No |
| Report Time | 29 days |
| Recommended For | All ages and genders; patients with confirmed or suspected drug-resistant tuberculosis |
| Price | Starting at ₹2,200 |
What Is an MTB Susceptibility – Clofazimine Test?
The MTB Susceptibility – Clofazimine test checks whether the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB), known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, is sensitive or resistant to the antibiotic clofazimine. Doctors use this test to guide treatment decisions in patients with drug-resistant TB. The test is also known as the Clofazimine Antibiogram or MTB-CFZ DST and requires a clinical specimen or a pure culture grown from the patient's sample.
What Does an MTB Susceptibility – Clofazimine Test Measure?
This test determines whether the TB bacteria in a patient's sample can be controlled by clofazimine. The result shows whether the bacteria are susceptible (the drug will work) or resistant (the drug will not work effectively). The key value it produces is the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC), which is the lowest amount of the drug needed to stop bacterial growth.
The key parameter measured is:
| Parameter | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| Clofazimine MIC at or below 1 mg/L | Susceptible (drug is likely to work) |
| Clofazimine MIC above 1 mg/L | Resistant (drug may not be effective) |
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has set a critical concentration of 1 mg/L in the MGIT system (a liquid growth tube used to detect mycobacteria) as the cut-off between susceptible and resistant results.
Why Is an MTB Susceptibility – Clofazimine Test Done?
This test is ordered when a patient has tuberculosis that may not respond to standard medicines. It helps the treating doctor choose the most effective drugs.
Common Symptoms That May Require This Test
Patients are often referred for this test when TB is confirmed or suspected based on the following symptoms:
- Persistent cough lasting more than two weeks
- Coughing up blood or mucus (sputum)
- Chest pain, particularly when breathing or coughing
- Unexplained weight loss and loss of appetite
- Fatigue or general weakness
- Fever and chills
- Night sweats
Conditions This Test Can Help Detect
The test is relevant in the following situations:
- Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), where first-line TB medicines have stopped working
- Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (XDR-TB), which has very limited treatment options
- Cross-resistance between clofazimine and bedaquiline (another TB medicine), caused by mutations in certain genes
- Suspected or confirmed drug resistance based on a previous molecular test result
- Cases where a patient has had prior exposure to clofazimine or related medicines
MTB Susceptibility – Clofazimine Test for Chronic Disease Monitoring
Patients receiving treatment for MDR-TB require ongoing monitoring throughout their treatment course, which can last nine to eighteen months. This test may be repeated during treatment to check whether TB bacteria are developing resistance to clofazimine. Regular susceptibility testing helps the doctor adjust the treatment regimen as needed.
How to Prepare and What to Expect
No special preparation is needed before this test, but collecting a good-quality sample is essential for an accurate result.
Do You Need to Fast?
No fasting is required before this test. You may eat and drink normally before sample collection.
Practical Tips Before Your Test
The following steps will help ensure the sample is suitable for testing:
- Bring a detailed clinical history, including your symptoms, previous TB test results and treatment records, as this is required for the test
- Provide your complete address and a valid mobile number at the time of booking, as these are required
- Inform the healthcare professional about any TB medicines you are currently taking or have taken previously
- If providing a sputum sample, rinse your mouth thoroughly with plain water beforehand to reduce contamination
- Try to collect an early-morning sputum specimen, as this tends to give the best results
- Avoid using mouthwash or toothpaste immediately before sputum collection
Step-by-Step Procedure
The MTB Susceptibility – Clofazimine test procedure involves collecting a clinical specimen, which is then cultured and tested. The sample collection and testing process follows these stages:
- A healthcare professional will guide you on how to produce a deep-cough sputum sample, usually early in the morning before eating.
- You will cough deeply from the chest (not just the throat) to produce a sputum sample of at least 5 ml into a sterile, leak-proof container.
- The labelled container is stored at the correct temperature (2 to 8 degrees Celsius) and promptly transported to the laboratory.
- In the laboratory, the sample is used to grow Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a special liquid or solid growth medium, a process called culture.
- Once the culture is confirmed positive, the bacteria are exposed to clofazimine at the critical concentration to observe whether they grow (resistant) or are inhibited (susceptible).
- The final susceptibility result is reported, typically within 29 days of sample receipt.
For some patients, the test may be performed directly on a pure culture that has already been submitted to the laboratory. For other specimen types (such as CSF, pleural fluid, pus or tissue), the sample is collected by a trained healthcare professional at the centre using the appropriate technique for that specimen site.
Factors That Can Affect Accuracy
The following factors may influence the reliability of the test result:
- Poor-quality sputum sample (saliva rather than deep-lung secretion)
- Contamination of the sample during collection
- Delay in transporting the sample to the laboratory
- Incorrect cold chain maintenance during transit
- Collection of the sample after TB treatment has already begun
- Incorrect preparation of the drug solution used in the test
Understanding Your MTB Susceptibility – Clofazimine Test Results
The results of this test indicate whether the TB strain isolated from your sample is sensitive or resistant to clofazimine. The table below shows how results are interpreted.
| Result | MIC Value | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Susceptible | Up to 1 mg/L | Clofazimine is likely to be effective as part of the treatment regimen |
| Resistant | Greater than 1 mg/L | The TB bacteria are not inhibited by clofazimine at the standard concentration |
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
The following conditions may influence how results are interpreted:
- There is currently no widely standardised commercial test for MTB Susceptibility – Clofazimine testing, and laboratory methodology can vary. Incorrect preparation of the drug solution (for example, using distilled water instead of DMSO as the diluent) may produce unreliable results.
- Prior treatment with clofazimine or bedaquiline may have already selected for resistant strains, which can affect both the result and the available treatment options.
- HIV co-infection does not directly change the susceptibility result but may influence overall treatment decisions.
How to Maintain Healthy Levels
The following general wellness steps can support treatment outcomes for TB patients:
- Complete the full prescribed course of TB treatment without interruption, as stopping early is a common cause of drug resistance
- Attend all scheduled follow-up appointments so your doctor can monitor your response to treatment
- Eat a nutritious diet and stay well hydrated to support your immune system during treatment.
Lupin Diagnostics MTB Susceptibility – Clofazimine Test Price
The MTB Susceptibility – Clofazimine test price at Lupin Diagnostics starts at ₹2,200. This test requires a visit to a Lupin Diagnostics centre; home collection is not available due to the specialist handling requirements for TB specimens.
| City | Approximate Price (₹) |
|---|---|
| BHOPAL | 2200 |
| CHENNAI | 2200 |
| HYDERABAD | 2200 |
| KOLKATA | 2200 |
| NAVI MUMBAI | 2200 |
| PUNE | 2200 |
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 the MTB Susceptibility – Clofazimine 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
The MTB Susceptibility – Clofazimine test checks whether the TB-causing bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis is sensitive or resistant to the antibiotic clofazimine. It is used to guide treatment decisions, particularly in cases of drug-resistant TB. The test uses a culture-based method and takes up to 29 days to deliver results.
This test is recommended for patients with confirmed tuberculosis where drug resistance is suspected. This includes patients who have had contact with a drug-resistant TB case, those who have not responded to standard TB medicines, or those in whom molecular tests have already detected resistance. Your doctor will prescribe this test based on your clinical history.
A sputum sample is most commonly collected by asking the patient to produce a deep-cough specimen into a sterile container. In some cases, other specimen types such as BAL fluid, pus, CSF, urine or tissue may be used. The sample must be collected carefully to ensure quality, and it is stored refrigerated until it reaches the laboratory.
Depending on the site of infection, the sample may be sputum, pus, CSF, pleural fluid, bone marrow or another clinical specimen. For pulmonary TB, a sputum sample is most commonly used. The sample is collected in a sterile container at the centre.
The test relies on growing live TB bacteria in the laboratory, a process that takes time. The culture phase alone can take two to four weeks. Once a positive culture is confirmed, the bacteria are then tested against clofazimine to observe whether they grow in its presence. This process cannot be meaningfully shortened, as the bacteria grow at their own pace.
A resistant result means that clofazimine is unlikely to be effective as part of your current treatment plan. Your doctor will review the full drug susceptibility profile and discuss alternative medicines. In some cases, resistance to clofazimine may also suggest cross-resistance to bedaquiline, which your doctor will take into account.
No fasting is needed. However, rinsing your mouth with plain water before producing a sputum sample is recommended to reduce contamination. Collect the sample early in the morning, ideally before eating. Bring your complete clinical history, previous test reports and treatment records to the collection centre, as these are required.
No, home collection is not available for the MTB Susceptibility – Clofazimine test. Sputum collection for TB culture and susceptibility testing requires supervision at a Lupin Diagnostics centre to ensure proper sample quality and the safe handling of potentially infectious material. Please visit your nearest centre to have your sample collected.
MTB Susceptibility – Clofazimine Test: Booking, Price, and Results
