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
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.
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