Who Endorses New Rapid Tuberculosis Test

Many countries rely mostly on sputum smear microscopy in diagnosing TB. Sputum smear microscopy is a widely used diagnostic technique for tuberculosis that involves examining a patient's sputum sample under a microscope to detect the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria that causes TB. This method is relatively inexpensive, easy to perform, and can provide quick results, making it a practical choice for resource-limited settings where more advanced diagnostic techniques like DNA testing may not be readily available.

The statement is true because it states that tuberculosis killed 1.7 million people in 2009 and 9.4 million people developed active TB last year. This indicates that tuberculosis is a significant global health issue and continues to cause a large number of deaths and new cases each year.

The new rapid tuberculosis test endorsed by WHO is the Nucleic Acid Amplification Test. This test is recommended by WHO because it is a highly sensitive and specific method for detecting tuberculosis. It can detect the presence of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria in a patient's sputum sample by amplifying its nucleic acid. This test provides quicker and more accurate results compared to traditional methods like sputum smear microscopy, making it an important tool in the diagnosis and control of tuberculosis.

Both MDR-TB and TB complicated with HIV infection are challenging to diagnose. MDR-TB refers to tuberculosis that is resistant to multiple drugs, making it harder to treat and control. TB complicated with HIV infection is also difficult to diagnose because the symptoms of both diseases can overlap, leading to delayed or missed diagnoses. Additionally, the presence of HIV weakens the immune system, making it harder to detect TB infection. Therefore, both conditions present unique challenges in terms of diagnosis, making "All of the above" the correct answer.