[New diagnostic methods for tuberculosis and their clinical utilities].

The clinical utilities of new diagnostic methods for Mycobacterium tuberculosis, such as primary isolation and drug susceptibility testing using MGIT, identification using anti-MPB 64 monoclonal antibodies and nucleic acid amplification assay, were studied. It was shown that these new diagnostic methods were more rapid and more accurate than currently available approaches and useful for the early and aggressive case findings. Questionnaire survey indicated that most of the laboratories had been ready to introduce these new diagnostic methods. Thus, the diagnosis for active tuberculosis along the "CDC recommendation in 1993" has become realizable in Japan. Now, Japanese TB control program is under revision due to the current stagnation of the decline in notification rates. The importance of rapid and accurate diagnosis of active tuberculosis should be declared in the new Japanese TB control program by indicating the guideline of rapid diagnostic methods for Mycobacterium tuberculosis.