title: Incubation time of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex sputum cultures in BACTEC MGIT 960: 4weeks of negative culture is enough for physicians to consider alternative diagnoses.
abstract: We retrospectively analyzed time to detection of 3747 positive MGIT sputum cultures at a laboratory in a country with heavy burden of tuberculosis. Ninety-nine percent of diagnostic cultures turned positive within 28days, suggesting that physicians may consider alternative diagnoses if sputum cultures remain negative after 4weeks of incubation.
authors.affiliation: Uganda-Case Western Reserve University Research Collaboration, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda. Electronic address: sxo81@case.edu.
authors.forename: Sam
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ogwang
authors.affiliation: Uganda-Case Western Reserve University Research Collaboration, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Joint Clinical Research Centre, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mubiri
authors.affiliation: Uganda-Case Western Reserve University Research Collaboration, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Division of Infectious Diseases, Metro Health Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA; Tuberculosis Research Unit, Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: Charles M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Bark
authors.affiliation: Uganda-Case Western Reserve University Research Collaboration, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Department of Medical Microbiology, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Moses L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Joloba
authors.affiliation: Uganda-Case Western Reserve University Research Collaboration, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Tuberculosis Research Unit, Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: W Henry
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Boom
authors.affiliation: Uganda-Case Western Reserve University Research Collaboration, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda; Tuberculosis Research Unit, Case Western Reserve University and University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH, USA.
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Johnson
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000382:microbiology
keywords: MGIT 960; MTB complex; Sputum culture; TTD