Effect of storage of sputum specimens at room temperature on smear and culture results

Paramasivan, C N and Narayana, A S L and Prabhakar, R and Somasundaram, P R and Tripathy, S P (1983) Effect of storage of sputum specimens at room temperature on smear and culture results. Tubercle, 64 (2). pp. 119-124. ISSN 0041-3879

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Abstract

A study of 41 specimens of sputum stored for up to 28 days at room temperature in a tropical country showed that smear results were not affected by storage, the positivity being 83 % before storage and 80–83 % after. The culture positivity was 88 % before storage, and 83 %, 68 %, 22 %, 13 % and 0 % after 3, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of storage respectively. The reduction in positivity on storage attains significance at 7 days (P=0.05). Another study involved 163 specimens of sputum and storage for 3, 5 or 7 days. Each specimen was examined before storage and after 2 periods of storage, at random. The smear results were again not affected. There was, however, significant loss of viability, the proportion culture positive being reduced from 92 % before storage to 83% at 3 days (P=0.05), 71 % at 5 days (P<0.01) and 63% at 7 days (P<0.001). The contamination rate was 5 %, 7 %, 12 % and 18 % respectively. It is concluded that sputum should not be stored at room temperature for longer than 3 days for culture but it can be stored for 4 weeks without any loss of smear-positivity.

Item Type:	Article
Subjects:	Tuberculosis > Laboratory Research > Bacteriological
Divisions:	Basic Science Research > Bacteriology
Depositing User:	Dr. Rathinasabapati R
Date Deposited:	06 Aug 2013 09:50
Last Modified:	16 Mar 2016 05:23
URI:	http://eprints.nirt.res.in/id/eprint/163

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