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Mycobacteriology

Around the world, tuberculosis is responsible for over one million deaths per year. The recent emergence of multi- and extensively drug resistant strains (MDR and XDR, respectively) represents a threat to public health worldwide, particularly when associated with HIV. 

Other mycobacteria species, referred to as nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), are ubiquitous environmental bacteria that can also cause human disease. The incidence of NTM disease is increasing and in many parts of the United States it exceeds that of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, creating a public health concern. Consequently, there is an urgent need for new tools for early detection and identification of these strains.

As the reference laboratory for New York State permitted laboratories, our role is to identify these organisms and in turn improve patient management and care.

The Mycobacteriology Laboratory at Wadsworth Center performs a full range of conventional and molecular testing procedures for rapid and accurate identification and characterization of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the agent of tuberculosis, as well as for non-tuberculous mycobacterium species, including Mycobacterium abscessus.

The Mycobacteriology Laboratory also provides reference and consultation services to permitted laboratories and agencies from other states. Additionally, this laboratory is responsible for defining the minimal laboratory standards in mycobacteriology.

CLIA# 33D2005937 | PFI# 8523

Program Updates

APHL Lab Matters Winter 2022

Lab Matters Article Highlights Wadsworth Center Scientists

Wadsworth Center scientists Dr. Kimberlee Musser, Dr. Marie Claire Rowlinson, and Tanya Halse were among the featured highlights from the National Conference on Laboratory Aspects of Tuberculosis hosted by the Association of Public Health Laboratories in the latest edition of its quarterly...

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Tanya Halse

Tanya Halse Receives National TB Laboratorian Award

Wadsworth Center’s Tanya Halse was the 2022 recipient of the Ed Desmond Award from the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association (NTCA).  This award honors exemplary service, dedication, or leadership to a tuberculosis (TB) laboratory professional and it’s easy to see why Tanya was nominated...

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CRyPTIC Logo

Wadsworth Center Collaborates as part of CRyPTIC: Comprehensive Resistance Prediction for Tuberculosis: an International Consortium

Tuberculosis­­­ - The Tortoise

Would you be surprised to know that tuberculosis (TB) was the leading infectious disease killer in the world in 2019? Estimates of deaths attributed to TB were second only to COVID-19 in 2020 (roughly 1.5 million versus 1.8 million reported deaths,...

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World TB Day logo courtesy CDC web resources

Wadsworth Center, at the forefront of the fight against tuberculosis in NYS and globally, celebrates World TB Day 2021

The World Health Organization estimates that almost 4,000 people lose their lives to TB and close to 28,000 people contract TB every day.  Currently,...

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Wadsworth Center TB Laboratory Featured in CAP TODAY

Wadsworth Center's TB Laboratory Featured in CAP TODAY

Wadsworth Center scientists from the Mycobacteriology and Bacteriology Laboratories, the Bioinformatics and Statistics Core, and the Sequencing Core, supported, developed and validated a test based on whole genome sequencing that provides comprehensive resistance detection for TB.

The TB...

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