[Staining of mycobacteria without pre-heating in a modification of the Ziehl-Neelsen method].
BACKGROUND
To evaluate the use of a new solution for the staining of mycobacteria without pre-heating for microscopic examinations in visible light. To verify the possibilities of the method in everyday practice.


METHODS
For the diagnostic staining of mycobacteria we used a modification of the Ziehl-Neelsen method without pre-heating. The carbolfuchsin solution contained a higher proportion of basic fuchsin, alcohol and phenol than in the original method; all other solutions used in this method remained unchanged. Efficacy was verified on 8 mycobacterial strains by a comparison with the original procedure that uses pre-heating, as well as with the fluorescence method. 310 microscopic specimens from clinical samples were compared with the fluorescence method, 2 500 smears from cultures were compared with the original staining method.


RESULTS
The results of mycobacteria staining with a modification of the Ziehl-Neelsen method without pre-heating were similar as those obtained by staining with the original method. The sensitivity of the new method was slightly lower than fluorescence (89 % and 92 %), but its specificity was higher (82 % and 65 %).


CONCLUSIONS
The method can be used for the staining of mycobacteria in everyday practice. Its efficacy was verified on microscopic specimens from clinical samples and on smears from cultures.
Bakhtary
Katerina
K
Institute of Public Health Ostrava, Czech Republic. katerina.bakhtary@seznam.cz
D004396:Coloring Agents; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000145:classification*; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; D013194:Staining and Labeling / Q000379:methods*
D004396:Coloring Agents; D012394:Rosaniline Dyes; C006898:carbol-fuchsin solution