The survey will be available from 15 September 2026 to 30 November 2026 [final extended deadline], with both dates inclusive across all time zones.
Rationale: The global epidemiology of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) remains incompletely characterized. Available data are often derived from individual centres, selected regions, surveillance systems, or retrospective laboratory datasets, while differences in culture methods, taxonomic identification, and reporting practices can make comparisons between countries and regions challenging.
National Reference Laboratories (NRLs) occupy a unique position in national mycobacteriology networks and can provide important laboratory-derived information on the distribution of cultured mycobacteria, including Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBc) and NTM. At the same time, the extent to which NTM isolates are identified beyond “NTM / non-MTBc”, the highest taxonomic resolution achieved, and the reporting characteristics may differ substantially between laboratories.
Aim: This survey therefore aims to provide a standardized global overview of mycobacterial (MTBc and NTM) epidemiology and identification and reporting practices at National Reference Laboratories (NRLs).
Objectives
- To describe the global and regional distribution of mycobacterial culture isolates, with particular emphasis on MTBc and NTM species and complexes.
- To characterize the distribution of MTBc and NTM species by specimen source and explore geographical variation in culture-based NTM epidemiology.
- To assess how National Reference Laboratories differentiate MTBc from NTM and identify NTM isolates, including the methods used and the highest taxonomic resolution achievable.
- To provide a brief overview of selected aspects of external quality assessment, training, and perceived challenges relevant to NTM laboratory practice.
Respondents
The survey is intended to be completed by members of the National Reference Laboratory (NRL) for mycobacteriology, or the laboratory fulfilling an equivalent national reference role. In countries without a formally designated NRL, this may include the principal national, public health, or mycobacteriology hub laboratory that coordinates mycobacterial testing at national level and/or is responsible for referral of specimens or isolates to an overseas reference laboratory.
The questionnaire should preferably be completed by the laboratory director, senior microbiologist, mycobacteriology lead, or another designated staff member with knowledge of the laboratory's routine practices and access to the requested 2025 laboratory epidemiology data. Up to 3 members from the laboratory can be listed for collaborative study group authorship for completing the survey.
The survey takes approximately 12-15 mins to complete. Please do not enter any patient-identifiable information. Only aggregated laboratory data are requested.
Features
- Save and resume later: You can save your progress and return to the survey at a later time. Watch tutorial by pressing the link (1 min)
/upload/surveys/348972/files/Tutorial.mp4
- Collaborative completion: Where necessary, different sections may be completed with input from colleagues responsible for epidemiology, culture, identification, or quality assurance.
- Multi-lingual deployment: The survey is available in 4 languages (English, French, Spanish, and Russian).
- Navigation: You can move backwards and forwards through the survey and review your responses before final submission.
- Structured sections: The survey is divided into shorter sections to facilitate completion.
Lead Study Contact
Nityanand Jain, MD
Laboratory of Respiratory Diseases and Thoracic Surgery
KU Leuven, Belgium
Email: nityanand.jain@kuleuven.be
Study supervisors
- Natalie Lorent , UZ Leuven / KU Leuven, Belgium
- Gert-Jan Wijnant, KU Leuven, Belgium
- Emmanuel Andre, UZ Leuven / KU Leuven, Belgium
- Leen Rigouts, Institute of Tropical Medicine, Antwerp, Belgium
- Sushil Pandey, Queensland Mycobacterium Reference Laboratory, Pathology Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
- Rumina Hasan, WHO Supranational Reference Laboratory, Pakistan
- Kevin L. Winthrop, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, Oregon, United States
- Dissou Affolabi, WHO Tuberculosis Supranational Reference Laboratory, Cotonou, Benin
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Consent Notice
By proceeding further, you consent to participate in this study on behalf of your laboratory. By agreeing to participate, you also consent to the publication of aggregated study results and any verbatim free-text responses you choose to provide.
Laboratory epidemiology data will be summarized and presented at country and regional level, including in tables, figures, maps, and supplementary material. Individual respondents will not be identified in publications. However, country-level presentation of aggregated epidemiological data may indirectly make the contributors identifiable.
Respondent-level data will be pseudonymized where required for study management and analysis. Please note that no patient-identifiable information should be entered anywhere in the survey.
