title: Evaluation of processing methods to equitably aliquot sputa for mycobacterial testing.
abstract: We compared bacillary loads after splitting sputum specimens by chemical (N-acetyl-l-cysteine [NALC]) and mechanical homogenization by vortexing with sterile glass beads. NALC and vortexing with glass beads were equally effective at homogenizing sputum specimens, resulting in an equal distribution of tubercle bacilli in the aliquots.
authors.affiliation: Núcleo de Doenças Infecciosas, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitoria, Brazil. davhadad@ndi.ufes.br
authors.forename: David Jamil
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Hadad
authors.forename: Carlos Gustavo Vieira
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Morais
authors.forename: Solange A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Vinhas
authors.forename: Kevin P
authors.initials: KP
authors.lastname: Fennelly
authors.forename: Reynaldo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dietze
authors.forename: Cristina Paula
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Nascimento
authors.forename: Moises
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Palaci
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D058491:Bacterial Load; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology; D055815:Young Adult