MTB Susceptibility – Ofloxacin Test: Booking, Price, and Results

The MTB Susceptibility – Ofloxacin test checks whether the bacterium that causes tuberculosis (TB), known as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, can be stopped by ofloxacin, a second-line antibiotic used in drug-resistant TB treatment. Doctors order this test when standard TB medications are not working or when drug resistance is suspected. It is also called the MTB Ofloxacin Sensitivity Test or TB Ofloxacin DST. The test can be performed on a wide range of samples, including sputum, urine, pus, tissue and many other body fluids or swabs.

This test is ordered when a patient has confirmed TB and there is concern that the bacteria may not respond to standard treatment. Below are the key reasons a doctor may request it.

Common Symptoms That May Require This Test

Doctors typically consider this test when a patient shows symptoms of TB that are not improving with standard drugs. Relevant symptoms include:

• Persistent cough lasting more than three weeks
• Night sweats
• Unexplained weight loss
• Recurring fever
• Fatigue and general weakness
• Chest pain
• Coughing up blood

Conditions This Test Can Help Detect

The MTB Susceptibility – Ofloxacin test helps identify several drug-resistant TB conditions:

• Fluoroquinolone-resistant tuberculosis, associated with poor treatment outcomes
• Pre-XDR-TB (multidrug-resistant TB with additional fluoroquinolone resistance)
• XDR-TB (extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis resistant to rifampicin, at least one fluoroquinolone such as ofloxacin and at least one other key drug)
• Suspected drug-resistant TB following failure of first-line treatment, contact with a drug-resistant case or prior use of second-line drugs

Preparing correctly for this test improves the quality of your sample and the reliability of your result. Here is what you need to know.

Do You Need to Fast?

No fasting is required before the MTB Susceptibility – Ofloxacin test procedure. You may eat and drink normally before sample collection.

Practical Tips Before Your Test

The following steps help ensure the sample is suitable for testing.

• Bring a detailed clinical history including your symptoms, previous test results and relevant medical records, as well as your full address and mobile number, as these are required for this test.
• Inform the doctor or technician about any antibiotics or anti-TB medications you are currently taking.
• Avoid strenuous physical activity before the appointment.
• For sputum-based testing, at least three specimens collected 8 to 24 hours apart (with one early-morning sample) are usually needed.
• Store your specimen in the refrigerator and keep it cool during transport if it cannot reach the laboratory within two hours.

Step-by-Step Procedure

The sample collection method varies depending on the site of infection. The steps below cover sputum collection, the most common approach, though other specimen types such as BAL, CSF or tissue may be collected by a healthcare professional at the centre.

1. Arrive at the Lupin Diagnostics centre and hand over your clinical history and any prior test reports.
2. For sputum collection, rinse your mouth with water. Take a deep breath, hold it for five seconds, breathe out slowly, then take another deep breath and cough hard to bring up phlegm from deep in the lungs.
3. Spit the sputum into the sterile container provided. A minimum of 5 ml is needed. At least three specimens are typically required, collected at 8 to 24-hour intervals, with at least one collected early in the morning.
4. The container is sealed, labelled and stored under refrigerated conditions (2 to 8 degrees Celsius) for transport to the laboratory.
5. The sputum is treated in the laboratory to remove contaminating organisms while preserving TB bacteria.
6. The processed sample is placed into a liquid culture system to allow TB bacteria to grow.
7. Once bacteria grow, ofloxacin is added at the critical concentration (2.0 µg/mL) to test whether it stops bacterial growth.
8. Results are reported as 'susceptible' or 'resistant'.

For other sample types (such as pus, tissue, urine or body fluids), a trained healthcare professional will collect the appropriate specimen using sterile technique at a clinical facility.

Factors That Can Affect Accuracy

Several factors can affect the reliability of your result:

• Prior use of antibiotics or anti-TB medications before sample collection
• Poor sputum collection technique (saliva instead of deep-lung phlegm)
• Incorrect storage or transport temperature
• Sample contamination during collection
• Certain resistance mutations may not always be detected at standard test concentrations

These general wellness tips support better outcomes during TB treatment:

• Complete your full course of TB treatment without stopping early, even if you feel better
• Follow up with your doctor regularly so that treatment response can be monitored and adjustments made if needed.
• Maintain good nutrition and rest to support your body's immune response during treatment.
• Ensure good ventilation in living and working spaces, as TB spreads through the air via respiratory droplets.

Follow these steps for MTB Susceptibility – Ofloxacin test online booking:

1. Select the test on the Lupin Diagnostics website.
2. Choose your city and preferred centre location.
3. Visit the centre at your scheduled time for sample collection or submission.
4. Receive your report via email or WhatsApp within 29 days.