title: Evaluation of mycobacteriology laboratories: the acid-fast smear.
abstract: In a proficiency testing program, slides bearing acid-fast bacilli were sent to laboratories in New York State. The most reliable results were obtained in laboratories using the Ziehl-Neelsen method. Cold staining procedures were less reliable. The auramine-rhodamine fluorescent stain, which produced many false positives, should be confirmed by the Ziehl-Neelsen procedure. The testing program described can be used to determine whether laboratories perform the acid-fast stain effectively.
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards*; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009518:New York; D009615:Nocardia / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009617:Nocardia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis; D013194:Staining and Labeling; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis