Tuberculosis(TB) is still a major public health challenge worldwide. One third of the world population is infected with M. tuberculosis. The World Health Organization (WHO) reported 9.2 million new cases of TB and 1.7 million patients died in 2006.¹ WHO recommends, for the stepwise success of TB, to control by an international achievement of 70% detection rate and 85% cure rate of TB patients. Early diagnosis, adequate therapy and prevention measures against transmission of TB are essential for TB control. Laboratory diagnosis of TB patients traditionally relies on direct smear microscopy of sputum and isolation of M. tuberculosis by culture. Active ...