Rapid Slide Culture: Relevance to the Modern Day Diagnosis of Tuberculosis

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis is probably the most important infectious disease of human beings. Early diagnosis of tuberculosis and initiating prompt treatment has been the mainstay in interrupting the transmission of the infection to others in the community. Aim: The present study was aimed at evaluating and comparing the different tests which are available for the diagnosis of tuberculosis and at determining their feasibility as diagnostic tests in terms of their effectiveness and affordability. Materials and Methods: 100 sputum samples, 50 samples which were positive for acid fast bacilli (AFB) and 50 samples which were negative for AFB on Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining were included in the study. The sputum was decontaminated and concentrated by the modified Petroff’s method and the deposit which was obtained was inoculated onto plain Lowenstein –Jensen (LJ) slants and the rapid slide culture (RSC) medium. Results: Of the 100 sputum samples which were inoculated onto the RSC and LJ mediums, 64 samples showed growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis on RSC after a mean incubation period of 7 days and 63 samples showed a positive growth on LJ medium after a mean incubation period of 34 days. Conclusion: RSC is more sensitive as compared to the direct smear examination and as sensitive as the LJ medium for the diagnosis of tuberculosis, but RSC had an advantage of a shorter turn around a period of 7 days.

Keywords

• rapid slide culture
• direct microscopy
• lj culture