title: Evaluation of a safe sputum processing method for detecting tuberculosis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate a safe sputum processing method for detection of tuberculosis in developing countries.
  
  
  METHODS
  A sample processing method was developed in which acid fast bacilli were killed with 1% sodium hypochlorite and concentrated by flotation on a layer of xylene before staining by the Ziehl Neelsen or auramine O methods.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Best results were obtained by auramine O staining after flotation. Staining by the Ziehl Neelsen method after flotation gave better results than direct Ziehl Neelsen staining without flotation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The flotation method with Ziehl Neelsen staining offers advantages for smear preparation in the tuberculosis control programmes of developing countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Rattan
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kishore
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jaber
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Xess
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kumar
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D001576:Benzophenoneidum; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011897:Random Allocation; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite / Q000494:pharmacology; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014992:Xylenes
chemical_list: D014992:Xylenes; D001576:Benzophenoneidum; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite