title: [Application of BACTEC MGIT 960 system and molecular identification of mycobacteria in the diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical application of BACTEC MGIT 960 system and molecular identification of mycobacterium species in diagnosis of spinal tuberculosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Thirty-one specimens were obtained from patients with spinal tuberculosis, followed by culturing with BACTEC MGIT 960 system and in Löwenstein-Jensen (L-J) medium respectively. Mycobacterium species of the clinical isolates were identified with PCR amplification of IS986 and PCR-single-strand conformation polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis of 16S rRNA, with the conventional identification approach serving as control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The positivity rates of mycobacterium culture with BACTEC MGIT 960 system and L-J medium were 83.87 % and 61.29 % respectively. The average detection time with BACTEC MGIT 960 were 11.3 d, 15.4 d shorter than that with the L-J medium (26.7 d). The genetic identification of mycobacterium species was more rapid and accurate with consistent results with that from conventional method.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  BACTEC MGIT 960 system is preferable for detecting mycobacteria in spinal tuberculosis. The combined application of this instrument with genetic identification of mycobacteria is an effective strategy for the bacteriological diagnosis of tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic and Spinal Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, First Military Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China.
authors.forename: Jin-song
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Jian-ting
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Xue-qiong
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.forename: Da-di
authors.initials: DD
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D002648:Child; D003470:Culture Media; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D018807:Polymorphism, Single-Stranded Conformational; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D014399:Tuberculosis, Spinal / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic