Journal of Medical Sciences1682-44741812-5727Asian Network for Scientific Information10.3923/jms.2002.137.144TalatTanzeela BhattiBashir Mahmood YaqoobM. 3200223In order to test the efficacy of different laboratory techniques used in diagnosis of tuberculosis, 50 Tb cases along with 50 control cases in Faisalabad area were studied, using different laboratory tests. Mantouxs test showed no correlation with hematological parameters. Acid fast test (AFB-Test) was routinely used in labs, but there was still chances of contamination of sputum sample with a typical mycobacteria, so increasing the chances of error in the results. Chest radiograph was also a specific technique to some extent but in case of small children and other lungs diseases, it became unreliable and confusing test. When a comparative evaluation was made between different diagnostic tests, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) proved to be a very sensitive, highly specific, qualitative and quantitative technique for the confirmation of pulmonary tuberculosis. However, there was no correlation of PCR results with other hematological findings. Hematological studies showed significantly high level of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in Tb cases (64.3 ± 38.2) (P<0.00) than in control cases (16.57 ± 5.26) were significantly increased (72.5 ± 39.9). Hemoglobin level (Hb) of Tb patients was significantly decreased (8.84 ± 2.33) than in control cases (11.8 ± 1.65). Total Leucocyte count (TLC) in Tb patients was significantly (P<0.000) higher (8882 ± 1650) as compared to control cases (62134 ± 1161.68). Differential leucocyte count (DLC) analysis of Tb cases in comparison with control cases showed significantly high (P<0.000), neutrophil count in Tb cases (69.4 ± 4.69) as compared to control cases (60.04 ± 5.15). Lymphocyte count in Tb cases was significantly decreased (P<0.000) (24.55 ± 3.64) than in control cases (32.39 ± 4.63) and eosinophil count in Tb cases was (2.16 ± 1.34) and control cases (3.2 ± 1.55) at probability level of (0.0004). Monocytes and basophil count was non-significantly different (P<0.1127; P<1.00) in Tb cases (3.7 ± 1.72, 0.08 ± 0.27) from control cases (4.38 ± 2.55, 0.08 ± 0.27). It may be concluded that PCR test is reliable, which may be employed in routine testing of Tb cases to safeguard against misdiagnosis.]]>Baker, S.J. and R.E. Silverton,19825th Edn.,Baynes, R.D., H. Flax, T.H. Bothwell, W.R. Bezwoda, P. Atkinson and B. Mendelow,198685226229Caminero, J.A., F. Diaz, F. Castro, J.M. Pavon, R. Esparza and P. Carera,199576387393Chan, W.H., J.S. Liu and S.L. Howng,19906428434Collier, L., A. Balows and M. Sussman,19989th Edn.,Edwards, C.R.W. and I.A.D. Bouchier,1991Fishman, A.P.,1980Follador, E.C., M. Pinetal, C.S. Barbas, T.Y. Takagaki, R.A. Kairalla, D. Deheinzecin and J.V.B. Filho,199146176179Fusegawa, H., H. Miyach and Y. Ando,199644307313Grishko, A.N. and A.V. Vasilev,199519951417Hannisdal, E. and T. Engan,1991229337341Idrees, M., A.H. Bhatti, R. Shamshad, A. Majeed, W. Khalid, A. Nadeem and S. Riazuddin,1998Mycobacterium tuberculosis in local samples.]]>1998pp: 4649Jain, S.K., R.L. Agrawal, R.C. Pandey, M. Agrawal and S. Sharma,1991451822Janis, E.M., D.W. Allen, M.J. Glesby, L.A. Cavey, L.M. Mundy, R. Gopalan and R.E. Chaisson,1996100186192Jurik, A.G., D. Davidsen and H. Graudal,198211217224Kolmer, J.A., E.H. Spandling and H.W. Robinson,19515th Edn.,Korablev, V.N., O.L. Karpenko and S.I. Kalinichenko,1995469Kovalev, G.K. and G.I. Gvozdilkin,19945911Laudet, J., C. Hiesse, M. Lucsko, A. Duc. H. Beaufils, M. Barbagelatla and M. Morin,1980932593261Albert, L.L.,1993Luntz, G.R. and W. Bogie,19953145150Malhotra, P., A. Abrol, V. Kaur, S. Dhar, A. Singh, S. Kaul and R.K. Raina,199694334337Maniatis, T., E.F. Fritsch and J. Sambrook,1982Tenth Edn.pp: 149-171pp: 149-171McDermott, L.J., J. Glassroth, J.B. Mehta and A.K. Dutt,199743113180Merchant, I.A. and R.A. Packer,19848th Edn.,Miller, L.D., C.O. Thoen, K.J. Throlson, E.M. Himes and R.L. Morgan,19891219222Niikawa, S., A. Hara, H. Nokura, T. Uno, A. Ohkuma and H. Yamda,198816881885Noordhock, G.T., J.K. Kaan, S. Mulder, H. Wilke and A.H. Kolk,199548810814Onwubalil, J.K. and G.M. Scott,1988698194Pratl, P.C., R.T. Vollmer and J.A. Miller,198035133138Robles, M. and P.A. Reyes,199412381388Samuservich, L.N.,1995324Sharp, J.F. and M. Goldman,198763539542Steel, R.G.D. and J.H. Torrie,19802nd Edn.,Pages: 633Pages: 633Suffys, P.N., M.E. de Araujo and W.M. Degrave,199792297316Syrjala, H.,1986Francisella tularensis.]]>145154Wedding, M.E. and S.A. Toenjes,1992Wells, A.D., J.M. Northover and E.R. Howard,198679149153Wislowska, M., A. Kotlichi, S. Milewski and I. Zielinska,198942245248Wyngaarden, J.B. and L.H. Smith,1988Zambardi, G., A. Druetta, C. Roure, B. Fouque and P. Girardo et al.,199599199