High sensitivity and specificity of acid-fast microscopy for diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in an African population with a high prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus.
Laboratories in low-income countries report that acid-fast microscopy is insensitive and nonspecific. We demonstrate that for a Ugandan population with high prevalences of tuberculosis and human immunodeficiency virus infection, acid-fast microscopy is highly sensitive (93.1%) and specific (100%) when performed by trained technologists in a carefully controlled manner using established techniques.
Shea
Yvonne R
YR
Department of Laboratory Medicine, National Institutes of Health Clinical Center, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-1508, USA.
Davis
J Lucian
JL
Huang
Laurence
L
Kovacs
Joseph A
JA
Masur
Henry
H
Mulindwa
Francis
F
Opus
Sally
S
Chow
Yuenwah
Y
Murray
Patrick R
PR
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006302:Health Services Research; D006801:Humans; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000166:cytology / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014454:Uganda; D055815:Young Adult