Rapid cultivation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in Veeraraghavan's liquid medium

2015 clinical samples were screened for M. tuberculosis culture in Veeraraghavan's liquid medium V (T). The liquid medium is a synthetic medium rich in amino acids, vitamins, sugars and mineral salts. Initially 111 consecutive samples of sputum and various body fluids were cultured in both LJ medium and liquid synthetic medium for comparison. As liquid medium gave satisfactory and quicker results the subsequent 1904 samples were cultured only on liquid medium to determine its usefulness in routine work. A total of 215 of the 243 ZN smear positive samples successfully grew within 48 hours in the liquid culture medium. Drug sensitivity was performed on the positive cultures at 10, 20, 40 and 80 micrograms/ml concentrations in the liquid medium with RNA. The sensitivity results were obtained within next 48 hours. The sensitivity tests on the cultures under study revealed highest sensitivity to Rifampicin and lowest to Isoniazid. Identification and pigment production of the mycobacterial culture was also done successfully in Veeraraghavan's liquid medium. The liquid medium is cost-effective and is recommended for routine use.