Quantitative sputum analysis: neuraminidase and tuberculosis.
OBJECTIVE
Clinically sensitive screening tests for pulmonary tuberculosis.


METHODS
Quantitation of sputum lysosomal enzymes derived from mycobacterium-infected macrophage. Neuraminidase in culture-positive sputa exemplifies such systems.


RESULTS
Correlation coefficient between sputum neuraminidase values (n=18), obtained by fixed-volume samplers and variable volume micropipets, was 0.995. Mean sputum neuraminidase values among tuberculous (137) and non-tuberculous (117) patients were 15.08 and 0.90 mU per mL. Medians were 8.45 and 0.20 mU per mL. Non-parametric analysis concludes a significant difference between the groups at P<0.001. Sputum neuraminidase levels above 1.0 mU per mL characterized 126 of 137 tuberculosis patients (92.0%).


CONCLUSIONS
(1) Calibrated sputum fluid samplers facilitate quantitation of sputum enzymes. (2) Sputum neuraminidase levels over 1.0 mU per mL associate with Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 92% of cases. (3) Sputum neuraminidase measurements offer a screening procedure with which to identify samples for more specific, but less sensitive tests.
Miller
Kent
K
Diagnostic Ventures, Inc., 601 North Clyde Morris Boulevard, Daytona Beach, FL 32114, USA. sixfive65@worldnet.att.net
Pitono
Indika
I
Mahannah
Sharan
S
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000737:chemistry; D004796:Clinical Enzyme Tests / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D009439:Neuraminidase / Q000737:chemistry*; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013183:Sputum / Q000201:enzymology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis*
D015415:Biomarkers; D009439:Neuraminidase