Lipoarabinomannan in sputum to detect bacterial load and treatment response in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis: Analytic validation and evaluation in two cohorts

These results indicate that the LAM-ELISA can determine LAM concentration in sputum, and sputum LAM measured by the assay may be used as a biomarker of bacterial load prior to and during TB treatment. Additional studies are needed to examine the predictive value of this novel biomarker on treatment outcomes.