title: Bleach-digested sputum smears for the diagnosis of TB in HIV-infected individuals.
abstract: We describe the performance of bleach-digested Zeihl-Neelsen (ZN) smears in TB suspects with/without HIV. In total, 51 (26%) and 62 (31%) out of the first 198 spot and digested smears were positive. Seven of the 30 HIV-positive patients had TB and their ZN smears were negative, scanty or 1 +. Six of seven digested smears were scanty. Forty-two of 115 HIV-negative patients had TB. Eleven (26%) of their digested smears were negative, 12 (29%) scanty and 19 (45%) positive. Despite the lower bacilli numbers of HIV-positive patients, the technique had sensitivity and specificity similar to that in HIV-negative patients.
authors.affiliation: Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Douthwaite
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Yassin
authors.forename: S B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Squire
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Arbide
authors.forename: L E
authors.initials: LE
authors.lastname: Cuevas
mesh_terms: D017088:AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003584:Cytological Techniques; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite; D013048:Specimen Handling; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology
chemical_list: D012973:Sodium Hypochlorite