Assessment of panel slides prepared by phenol ammonium sulphate and NALC methods for proficiency testing

Radhakrishnan, R and Kumar, M M P and Prabuseenivasasn, S and Anbarasu, S and Nagarajan, P and Devisangamithirai, M and Sivagamasundari, S and Ponnuraja, C and Kumar, V and Selvakumar, N (2012) Assessment of panel slides prepared by phenol ammonium sulphate and NALC methods for proficiency testing. International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 16 (3). pp. 394-397. ISSN Print: 1027-3719 Electronic: 1815-7920

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Existing methods for the preparation of panel slides necessitate handling high-grade acid-fast bacilli positive sputum samples. OBJECTIVE: To compare panel slides prepared using the phenol ammonium sulphate sediment (PhAS) method with those prepared using the N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NALC) method in proficiency testing. METHODS: Pooled sputum specimens of known smearpositives and -negatives were divided into two parts: one part was used for preparing panel slides using the NALC method and the other using PhAS, a non-hazardous method. Respectively 413 and 384 smears of different grades were prepared in three batches using the PhAS and NALC methods. Smear grade and quality were recorded by 121 microscopists during proficiency testing in different states. Agreement between reference and reported results was analysed using the kappa test. RESULTS: The overall agreement was 96% for the PhAS method and 91% for the NALC method. There were 37 errors using the NALC method compared to 21 for the PhAS method (P < 0.223). Smear quality was equally good in both methods; however, the cell count was s ignificantly higher in the PhAS than in the NALC method. CONCLUSION: The PhAS method, a non-hazardous procedure with good-quality smears, may be further explored for the preparation of panel slides.

Affiliation:	ICMR-National Institute for Research in Tuberculosis
Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	microscopy; quality assurance; M. tuberculosis; panel testing
Subjects:	Tuberculosis > Laboratory Research > Bacteriological
Divisions:	Basic Science Research > Bacteriology
Depositing User:	Dr. Rathinasabapati R
Date Deposited:	01 Sep 2022 08:52
Last Modified:	01 Sep 2022 08:52
URI:	http://eprints.nirt.res.in/id/eprint/1145

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