Purpose

While Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex members are the most commonly known human pathogens, Non-tuberculosis Mycobacteria (aslo known as environmental mycobacteria, atypical mycobacteria, and mycobacteria other than tuberculosis (MOTT)) are also implicated in tuberculosis-like disease, localized lymphadenitis, gastrointestinal disese, and disseminated infections. Acid fast bacilli can be very difficult to grow due to their nutritional requirements. Some specimens may never reveal the presence of a pathogen because of low abundance and/or lack of viability. The use of PCR to detect Mycobacterial DNA extracted directly from clinical specimens facilitates the identifcation pf these pathogens.