Evaluation of the resazurin microtiter assay for rapid detection of ofloxacin resistance in M. tuberculosis.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the performance of the colorimetric resazurin microtiter assay (REMA) method for the detection of ofloxacin resistance.


METHODS
A panel of 120 multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains was tested blindly by the REMA method and compared with the results obtained using the BACTEC 460 method.


RESULTS
A very good correlation was observed between the two methods.


CONCLUSIONS
The REMA method is simple, rapid and can be an inexpensive alternative procedure for the rapid detection of anti-tuberculosis drug resistance in laboratories with limited resources.
Umubyeyi
A N
AN
Mycobacteriology Unit, Institute of Tropical Medecine, Antwerp, Belgium. alainenyaruhirira@hotmail.com
Martin
A
A
Zissis
G
G
Struelens
M
M
Karita
E
E
Portaels
F
F
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004352:Drug Resistance, Microbial; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000187:drug effects*; D015242:Ofloxacin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D010078:Oxazines / Q000737:chemistry*; D014966:Xanthenes / Q000737:chemistry*
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010078:Oxazines; D014966:Xanthenes; C005843:resazurin; D015242:Ofloxacin