Viability of stored sputum specimens for smear microscopy and culture.
A laboratory study was performed to determine how long sputum specimens from smear-positive tuberculosis patients can be stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator and retain a positive acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear or a positive mycobacterial culture. Sputum samples from 30 patients were examined up to 4 weeks and samples from 13 patients examined up to 8 weeks. Provided samples had not dried out, all sputum smears remained AFB positive up to 4 and 8 weeks. In both patient groups, at 4 weeks 37-39% of specimens at room temperature grew mycobacteria compared with 54-67% of specimens stored in the refrigerator. These results have implications for tuberculosis programme policy.
Banda
H T
HT
National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Community Health, Science Unit, Lilongwe, Malawi.
Harries
A D
AD
Boeree
M J
MJ
Nyirenda
T E
TE
Banerjee
A
A
Salaniponi
F M
FM
D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D006801:Humans; D012034:Refrigeration; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D013696:Temperature