biostudies-literatureHoneyborne IMedical Research Council3064-7https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC4136187biostudies-literatureUnknown52(8)We evaluated the use of the molecular bacterial load (MBL) assay, for measuring viable Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum, in comparison with solid agar and liquid culture. The MBL assay provides early information on the rate of decline in bacterial load and has technical advantages over culture in either form.Journal of clinical microbiologyThe molecular bacterial load assay replaces solid culture for measuring early bactericidal response to antituberculosis treatment.PMC4136187MC_U122888469G0601466Murthy SZumla AMekota AMPan African Consortium for the Evaluation of Anti-tuberculosis AntibioticsBateson AReither KHoelscher MSanne IAdegnika AAMaboko LSam NBoeree MAmukoye EVenter AHunt RNdusilo NDiacon AElias Nvan Balen GPMellet KDawson RFramhein ANarunsky KMpagama SMtafya BHenne SSemvua HRachow AHoneyborne IWeijers MPhillips PPMangu CJugheli LKibiki GMwaba POkwera AGillespie SNtinginya ENAlabi AMcHugh TDHeinrich NAarnoutse RKohlenberg Adu Bois JSaathoff ESasamalo MRehal SCharalambous Sde Jong EPhillips PNunn AFriedrich SMcHugh TRojas-Ponce GChurchyard GMinja LTfalseThe molecular bacterial load assay replaces solid culture for measuring early bactericidal response to antituberculosis treatment.We evaluated the use of the molecular bacterial load (MBL) assay, for measuring viable Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum, in comparison with solid agar and liquid culture. The MBL assay provides early information on the rate of decline in bacterial load and has technical advantages over culture in either form.2014-01-01T00:00:00Z2014 Aug2025-04-19T11:21:56.805Z2019-03-27T01:34:15ZS-EPMC41361872487121510.1128/JCM.01128-1410.1128/jcm.01128-14