title: Impact of sputum quality and quantity on smear and culture positivity: findings from a tuberculosis prevalence study in central India.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The objective of this study was to assess the impact of sputum quality and quantity on smear and culture positivity for Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 14 708 sputum specimens, collected from respiratory symptomatics in a TB prevalence survey, were evaluated for gross appearance and volume of sputum and examined by smear microscopy and culture.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The smear and culture positivity increased with the quantity and the up gradation in quality of sputum, and the difference was significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study highlights the importance of visual screening of sputum specimens in the detection of pulmonary TB particularly in resource limited settings.
authors.affiliation: Regional Medical Research Centre for Tribals (Indian Council of Medical Research), Nagpur Road, P.O. Garha, Jabalpur-482 003, Madhya Pradesh, India.
authors.forename: Jyothi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bhat
authors.forename: Vikas
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Rao
authors.forename: Malaisamy
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Muniyandi
authors.forename: Rajiv
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yadav
authors.forename: Chandan
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Karforma
authors.forename: Canina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Luke
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003581:Cytodiagnosis / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007194:India / Q000453:epidemiology; D008853:Microscopy / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D015995:Prevalence; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Positivity; Quality; Quantity; Sputum; Tuberculosis; Visual Screening