Test Price
3,500 AED✅ Home Collection Available
Cultured AFB Antitubercular DST Rapid 16‑Drugs Panel in UAE | 3500 AED | DHA Licensed
Executive Summary & Core Metrics
Accuracy Guarantee
99.9% Diagnostic Sensitivity via ISO 9001:2015 Certified Processing & Automated Fluorescent Phenotypic DST (BACTEC™ MGIT™ 960) under DHA norms.
Premium Logistics
VIP Home Specimen Pickup with ISO-Certified Cold‑Chain Transport, available 8 AM – 11 PM across UAE. Safely transferring your pre‑cultured isolate at your doorstep.
Clinical Guidance
Complimentary Post‑Test Telephonic Clinical Interpretation by DHA‑licensed Dr. Ajay Singh (DHA: 36234132), ensuring personalized treatment decisions.
Insurance
Direct Billing Verification via WhatsApp +971 54 548 8731. Partner network includes all major UAE insurers compliant with Federal Decree‑Law No. 45 of 2021 (PDPL) and Federal Law No. 2 of 2019.
Test Overview & Methodology
The Cultured AFB Antitubercular DST Rapid 16‑Drugs Panel is a comprehensive phenotypic drug susceptibility test performed on a pure growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. It detects resistance to 16 first‑ and second‑line anti‑TB drugs using automated fluorescence – the gold standard for guiding personalized treatment of drug‑resistant tuberculosis, fully aligned with WHO and DHA TB control strategies.
| Feature | Our Test | Closest Alternative (LPA) |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Phenotypic (culture‑based) DST | Molecular Line Probe Assay (MTBDRplus/sl) |
| Method | Automated Fluorescent MGIT (BACTEC™ 960) | DNA strip technology (targeted mutations) |
| Drug Coverage | 16 drugs (first‑line + second‑line injectables/fluoroquinolones/novel agents) | Limited to 2–3 core drugs (rifampicin, isoniazid, fluoroquinolones/injectables) |
| Turnaround Time | 21 days from pure culture submission | 1 day from processed DNA |
| Resistance Detection | Direct growth-based – detects all resistance mechanisms (including novel/unknown mutations) | Only known mutations; may miss emerging resistance or heteroresistance |
| Clinical Relevance | Gold standard for regimen design in MDR/XDR‑TB | Rapid screening tool – insufficient for full treatment tailoring |
| Price | 3500 AED | ~1800 AED (variable) |
Physician Insight & Safety Protocols
“As your treating physician, I emphasize that this 16‑drug susceptibility panel must be interpreted alongside clinical history, imaging, and patient response. A susceptible result does not guarantee treatment success if adherence is poor, while precise resistance detection enables a tailored, highly effective regimen. Remember, never discontinue your prescribed anti‑TB medication without consulting your doctor, as this may lead to treatment failure or further drug resistance.” — Dr. Ajay Singh (DHA: 36234132)
Medication Warning
⚠️ Do not discontinue prescribed medication without consulting your doctor. Abrupt cessation can cause severe clinical deterioration and promotes multidrug‑resistant TB.
Exclusion Criteria & Emergency Red Flags
- Requires a pure growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex – test cannot be run on direct sputum, blood, or non‑viable cultures.
- No growth from original specimen or heavy contamination invalidates the DST; a new culture may be needed.
- Patients with known severe allergy to any test medium component (egg‑based or synthetic media) must notify the lab; however, the assay is on the isolate, not the patient.
- 🚨 If you experience worsening cough, high fever, hemoptysis, severe chest pain, or shortness of breath while on TB therapy, visit the nearest emergency department immediately – these may indicate treatment failure or paradoxical reaction requiring urgent intervention.
Patient FAQ & Clinical Guidance
1. What is the purpose of the 16‑drug DST panel?
This test identifies which anti‑TB drugs will effectively treat your tuberculosis by directly measuring the growth of your Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolate in the presence of 16 different drugs.
2. How long does it take to get results?
Results are typically ready within 21 days from the time the pure culture is submitted to our laboratory, ensuring rapid, data‑driven treatment decisions.
3. Do I need to prepare anything before the test?
No personal preparation is needed because this is performed on a culture of your TB bacteria previously grown from a clinical sample.
UAE Regulatory & Data Privacy Adherence
Compliance & Certifications
- Data Protection: Fully compliant with Federal Decree‑Law No. 45 of 2021 on Personal Data Protection (PDPL).
- Health Data: Adheres to Federal Law No. 2 of 2019 Concerning the Use of Information and Communication Technology in Health Fields.
- Medical Liability: Clinical safety and patient consent in accordance with Federal Decree‑Law No. 4 of 2016 on Medical Liability.
- ISO 9001:2015 Certified (Cert: INT/EGQ/2509DA/3139).
- DHA Facility License No. 1143, DNA Labs UAE, Premises 105, Floor 1, Building 33, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai, UAE.
Clinical & Logistical Metadata
| Test Name | Cultured AFB Antitubercular DST Rapid 16‑Drugs Panel |
| Price (AED) | 3,500 AED |
| Turnaround Time | 21 days from pure culture submission |
| Sample Type / Matrix | Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex culture isolate (pure growth) |
| Methodology Used | Automated Fluorescent Phenotypic DST (BACTEC™ MGIT™ 960) |
| ICD-10-CM Code | A15.0 (Tuberculosis of lung) |
| LOINC Code | 60535-9 |
| DHA Facility License & Laboratory Address | DHA Facility License No. 1143, DNA Labs UAE, Premises 105, Floor 1, Building 33, Dubai Healthcare City, Dubai, UAE |
دعم ثنائي اللغة متاح
التحقق من التغطية التأمينية
Check Insurance Coverage Instantly
Stop the guesswork. Send a photo of your Insurance Card and Doctor's Prescription to our DHA-Certified Verification Team on WhatsApp.
توقف عن التخمين. أرسل صورة من بطاقة التأمين ووصفة الطبيب إلى فريق التحقق المعتمد من هيئة الصحة بدبي عبر الواتساب. احصل على تحديث الحالة في دقائق.
Available in Arabic, English, Hindi & Urdu
ISMS 27001:2022
ISO Accredited
HIPAA
All reports reviewed by DHA-Certified physicians