Rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from sputum specimens using the FASTPlaqueTB test.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the performance of the FASTPlaqueTB test, based on bacteriophage amplification technology, by comparison with the BACTEC 460 TB culture system, the Löwenstein-Jensen (LJ) medium culture method and Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining.


METHODS
Of 400 sputum specimens studied in our laboratory, 19 were excluded due to contaminant growth. The FASTPlaqueTB test was performed according to the manufacturer's instructions.


RESULTS
Only 42 of the 381 specimens examined were positive on at least one test: 30 were positive with ZN staining, 34 with LJ medium, 36 with the FASTPlaqueTB test and 39 with BACTEC 460 TB. The combination of BACTEC 460 TB and LJ medium culture was considered the gold standard. The sensitivity and specificity were 70.7% and 99.7% for ZN staining, 87.8% and 100% for the FASTPlaqueTB test, 82.9% and 100% for LJ, and 95.1% and 100% for BACTEC 460 TB.


CONCLUSIONS
The FASTPlaqueTB test is useful in the rapid diagnosis of TB.
Kiraz
N
N
Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Eskisehir Osmangazi University, Eskisehir, Turkey. nkiraz@ogu.edu.tr
Et
L
L
Akgun
Y
Y
Kasifoglu
N
N
Kiremitci
A
A
D003470:Culture Media; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology
D003470:Culture Media