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Evaluation of a safe sputum processing method for detecting tuberculosis
1Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
Aims:
To evaluate a safe sputum processing method for detection of tuberculosis in developing countries.
Methods:
A sample processing method was developed in which acid fast bacilli were killed with 1% sodium hypochlorite and concentrated by flotation on a layer of xylene before staining by the Ziehl Neelsen or auramine O methods.
Results:
Best results were obtained by auramine O staining after flotation. Staining by the Ziehl Neelsen method after flotation gave better results than direct Ziehl Neelsen staining without flotation.
Conclusions:
The flotation method with Ziehl Neelsen staining offers advantages for smear preparation in the tuberculosis control programmes of developing countries.