A prospective, multicenter study of laboratory cross-contamination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis cultures.
A prospective study of false-positive cultures of Mycobacterium tuberculosis that resulted from laboratory cross-contamination was conducted at three laboratories in California. Laboratory cross-contamination accounted for 2% of the positive cultures. Cross-contamination should be a concern when an isolate matches the genotype of another sample processed during the same period.
Jasmer
Robert M
RM
San francisco General Hospital Medical Center and University of California, San Francisco, California 94110, USA. rjasmer@itsa.ucsf.edu
Roemer
Marguerite
M
Hamilton
John
J
Bunter
John
J
Braden
Christopher R
CR
Shinnick
Thomas M
TM
Desmond
Edward P
EP
D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques / Q000592:standards; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D003951:Diagnostic Errors / Q000517:prevention & control; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories / Q000592:standards*; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000145:classification / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D013048:Specimen Handling; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology*
D004269:DNA, Bacterial