Mine Health and Safety Act, 1996 (Act No. 29 of 1996)NoticesGuidance Note for a Management and Control Programme for Tuberculosis in the South African Mining IndustryPart B : Author's Guide4. Diagnosis |
| 4.1 | In all suspected cases of TB, a chest x-ray and the following laboratory investigations should be conducted. |
| 4.1.1 | At least two sputum smear examinations; and |
| 4.1.2 | Sputum culture and first line DST or NAT (e.g. Gene-Xpert). |
| 4.2 | In all confirmed MDR-TB cases second line DST should be conducted. |
| 4.3 | Only laboratories accredited by the South African National Accreditation System (SANAS) to do the tests contemplated in 4.1.1 and 4.1.2 above should be used. The target for the turnaround time for smear and nuclear amplification test is to have the results back at the health facility within 48 hours. The target for the turnaround time for culture is to have the results back at the health facility within 2-8 weeks. |
| NOTE: | Under ODMWA; pleural, inter-thoracic lymph nodes and pericardial TB is considered as occupational tuberculosis. Investigation and diagnosis of disease involving these sites may require additional investigations. |