Laboratory assays for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis have evolved signifi cantly in the last decade. The Amplified MTD® Test (Gen-Probe, San Diego, CA, USA) can detect M. tuberculosis complex rRNA in approximately 3 h, is approved for use in respiratory samples and provides the greatest benefi t for negative smear samples, as it allows early diagnosis and treatment. However, there are insufficient data to demonstrate the effectiveness of MTD in paucibacillary individuals, as the quality of the samples usually makes diagnosis by bacilloscopy and culture difficult.