A novel method of staining acid-fast bacilli in sputum containers

Selvakumar, N and Ravikumar, M and Sivagamasundari, S and Gopi, P G and Narayanan, P R (2006) A novel method of staining acid-fast bacilli in sputum containers. Indian Journal of Medical Research, 123 (Jun). pp. 776-780. ISSN 0971-5916

[thumbnail of 200649.pdf]
Preview
PDF
200649.pdf - Published Version

Download (19kB)
Official URL: http://ijmr.in/

Abstract

Background & objectives: Making centrifuged deposit smears from sputum to detect acid-fast bacilli (AFB) is considered hazardous. We carried out this study to stain the centrifuged deposits with carbol-fuchsin in sputum containers and to decolourize and counterstain their smears made on glass slides. Methods: The centrifuged deposits of 180 sputum samples from pulmonary tuberculosis patients were used for making smears (initial deposit smears) and staining by Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) method for the detection of AFB. Each of the sputum deposit was then treated with one ml of 1 per cent carbol-fuchsin and a smear made between 2 to 3 h was then decolourized and counterstained by the same procedures followed in ZN method (2 h stained deposit smear). The coded initial deposit smears and the corresponding 2 h stained deposit smears were read by the same readers and the results compared. Results: One hundred and fifty (70 positive and 80 negative) 2 h stained deposit smears were compared with initial deposit smears and the difference was not statistically significant. Interpretation & conclusion: Centrifuged deposits of sputum in sputum containers can be stained by carbol-fuchsin within 2-3 h and their smears made subsequently on glass slides can then be decolourized and counterstained by the procedures followed in ZN method for detection of AFB by light microscopy.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: AFB, pulmonary tuberculosis, smears, sputum containers, ZN staining
Subjects: Tuberculosis > Laboratory Research > Bacteriological
Divisions: Basic Science Research > Bacteriology
Depositing User: Dr. Rathinasabapati R
Date Deposited: 13 Dec 2013 09:29
Last Modified: 09 Mar 2016 06:24
URI: http://eprints.nirt.res.in/id/eprint/776

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item