Comparison of variants of carbol-fuchsin solution in Ziehl-Neelsen for detection of acid-fast bacilli.
To evaluate Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining using variants of carbol-fuchsin solution, duplicate smears from 416 samples were stained with ZN, one set with 1% basic fuchsin and the other 0.3%. Another set of duplicate smears from 398 samples were stained with ZN, one with 1% basic fuchsin and the other 0.1%. The coded smears were read and discrepancies resolved. All samples underwent mycobacterial culture. The sensitivity of ZN using 0.3% (65%) and 1% basic fuchsin (62%) was comparable, while it was reduced using 0.1% (74%) compared to 1% basic fuchsin (83%). Reducing the concentration of basic fuchsin below 0.3% in ZN staining was found to significantly reduce its sensitivity.
Selvakumar
N
N
Tuberculosis Research Centre (Indian Council of Medical Research), Chennai, New Delhi, India. selvakumarn@hotmail.com
Sekar
M Gomathi
MG
Rahman
F
F
Syamsunder
A
A
Duraipandian
M
M
Wares
F
F
Narayanan
P R
PR
D004396:Coloring Agents / Q000592:standards; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
D004396:Coloring Agents; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; C006898:carbol-fuchsin solution