title: Evaluation of the Roche Septi-Chek AFB system for recovery of mycobacteria.
abstract: The Septi-Chek AFB system for the recovery of mycobacteria from clinical specimens was compared with a conventional approach using Lowenstein-Jensen and Middlebrook 7H11 agars. A total of 1,532 clinical specimens were analyzed; 132 yielded mycobacteria. Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Mycobacterium avium complexes were the predominant isolates. With the conventional combination of Lowenstein-Jensen and 7H11 agars, 75.8% of the isolates were recovered; the Septi-Chek AFB allowed recovery of 100% of the isolates. Septi-Chek AFB required less time for the detection of mycobacteria than did the conventional media.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Catholic Medical Center of Brooklyn & Queens, Inc., Jamaica, New York 11432-3723.
authors.forename: R F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: D'Amato
authors.forename: H D
authors.initials: HD
authors.lastname: Isenberg
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hochstein
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Mastellone
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Alperstein
mesh_terms: D000362:Agar; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D003470:Culture Media; D006801:Humans; D009162:Mycobacterium avium / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D000362:Agar