Mycobacteria/Nocardia Clinical Reference Laboratory

Founded in 1982, the UT Tyler Mycobacteria/Nocardia Clinical Reference Laboratory is a nationally and internationally recognized center of excellence, dedicated to the accurate and timely identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), Nocardia and other aerobic actinomycetes.

With a focus on quality, speed and innovation, the UT Tyler Mycobacteria/Nocardia Clinical Reference Laboratory remains a trusted partner for clinicians, hospitals and public health institutions nationwide, supporting improved patient outcomes and advancing the field of infectious diseases.

Our History

For over four decades, the laboratory has provided specialized diagnostic services to healthcare providers, public health agencies and reference laboratories across the United States. Originally established to support clinical care and research in complex mycobacterial infections, the lab continues to advance the understanding and management of these challenging pathogens.

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Clinical Services
The laboratory integrates conventional culture techniques, molecular diagnostics and emerging next-generation sequencing technologies to deliver precise organism identification and comprehensive drug susceptibility testing. These services are essential in guiding effective treatment of difficult-to-manage infections, including NTM disease.

Clinical services include:

Molecular Testing

16S rRNA sequencing, rpoB and erm(41) gene testing, and 23S rRNA sequencing for species identification and resistance detection.

Next-Generation Sequencing

Illumina and Oxford Nanopore platforms for comprehensive organism identification and detection of antimicrobial resistance genes (in development).

 

Antimicrobial Susceptibility

CLSI-recommended broth microdilution and molecular resistance testing to guide therapy for amikacin, clarithromycin, rifampin and other critical agents.

 

Research and Innovation
Uniquely positioned within the UT Tyler Health Science Center, the laboratory bridges academic research and clinical application. Research efforts include:

• Development and validation of improved diagnostic methodologies
• Investigation of emerging resistance patterns in NTM, Nocardia and related pathogens
• Evaluation of the latest antimicrobial agents and combination therapies
• Synergy drug testing to optimize treatment regimens
• Hollow fiber modeling to study pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of antimicrobial therapies
• Conducting more than 12 active clinical trials to advance treatment and management of NTM infections

Contact Us

Kelly Moore, Administrative Assistant

Email: kelly.moore@uttyler.edu
Phone:  (903)877-7685