Comparison among three cold staining methods in the primary diagnosis of tuberculosis: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: In developing countries, sputum smear microscopy is the main tool for pulmonary tuberculosis case finding. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of Gabbett's staining (GS) and modified cold staining (MCS), both of which are two-step methods, in comparison with that of fluorescent staining (FS), which is a three-step method, for the detection of AFB in sputum smears. METHODS: Our sample comprised 260 sputum samples collected from individuals suspected of having pulmonary tuberculosis at Kasturba Hospital, in Manipal, India. Smears were prepared in triplicate: one each for FS, MCS, and GS. The smears were randomly numbered so that the examiner was blinded to the sample identities. RESULTS: Of the 260 samples, 16 (6.15%), 15 (5.77%), and 13 (5.00%) showed positive AFB results with FS, MCS, and GS, respectively. The sensitivity of GS and MCS, in comparison with that of FS, was 81.25% and 93.75%, respectively. The concordance of GS and MCS with FS was good (0.988 and 0.996, respectively), and no statistically significant differences were found. CONCLUSIONS: Although MCS and GS were found to be less sensitive than was FS, which is evaluated under fluorescence microscopy, the first two are promising methods for the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Comparação entre três métodos de coloração a frio no diagnóstico primário de tuberculose: um estudo piloto / Comparison among three cold staining methods in the primary diagnosis of tuberculosis: a pilot study

OBJETIVO: Em países em desenvolvimento, a baciloscopia é a principal ferramenta para a identificação de casos de tuberculose pulmonar. O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a eficácia diagnóstica do método de coloração de Gabbett (MCG) e de um método modificado de coloração a frio (MMC), ambos em duas etapas, em comparação com a do método de coloração fluorescente (MCF), em três etapas, para a detecção de BAAR em esfregaços de escarro. MÉTODOS: Nossa amostra consistiu de 260 amostras de escarro coletadas de casos suspeitos de tuberculose pulmonar no Kasturba Hospital, em Manipal, Índia. Os esfregaços foram preparados em triplicata, para cada um dos métodos: MCF, MMC e MCG. As lâminas foram numeradas aleatoriamente a fim de que o examinador fosse cegado quanto à identidade das amostras. RESULTADOS: Das 260 amostras, 16 (6,15 por cento), 15 (5,77 por cento) e 13 (5,00 por cento) foram positivas para BAAR com MCF, MMC e MCG, respectivamente. A sensibilidade de MCG e MMC em relação à de MCF foi de 81,25 por cento e 93,75 por cento, respectivamente. Houve boa concordância de MCG e MMC com MCF (0,988 e 0,996, respectivamente), e não houve diferenças estatísticas significativas. CONCLUSÕES: Embora MCG e MMC apresentaram menor sensibilidade que MCF, que é avaliado por microscopia de fluorescência, consideramos que os dois primeiros métodos sejam promissores no diagnóstico de tuberculose.

OBJECTIVE: In developing countries, sputum smear microscopy is the main tool for pulmonary tuberculosis case finding. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of Gabbett's staining (GS) and modified cold staining (MCS), both of which are two-step methods, in comparison with that of fluorescent staining (FS), which is a three-step method, for the detection of AFB in sputum smears. METHODS: Our sample comprised 260 sputum samples collected from individuals suspected of having pulmonary tuberculosis at Kasturba Hospital, in Manipal, India. Smears were prepared in triplicate: one each for FS, MCS, and GS. The smears were randomly numbered so that the examiner was blinded to the sample identities. RESULTS: Of the 260 samples, 16 (6.15 percent), 15 (5.77 percent), and 13 (5.00 percent) showed positive AFB results with FS, MCS, and GS, respectively. The sensitivity of GS and MCS, in comparison with that of FS, was 81.25 percent and 93.75 percent, respectively. The concordance of GS and MCS with FS was good (0.988 and 0.996, respectively), and no statistically significant differences were found. CONCLUSIONS: Although MCS and GS were found to be less sensitive than was FS, which is evaluated under fluorescence microscopy, the first two are promising methods for the diagnosis of tuberculosis.

Role of laboratory in rapid diagnosis of atypical mumps.

Fairly large number of mumps virus infections present atypically without parotitis leading to delay in diagnosis and increased morbidity. Awareness of such presentations and inclusion of serological test for detecting IgM-specific antibodies could help in solving diagnostic dilemma, especially in unvaccinated individuals from developing countries.

Role of laboratory in rapid diagnosis of atypical mumps

Fairly large number of mumps virus infections present atypically without parotitis leading to delay in diagnosis and increased morbidity. Awareness of such presentations and inclusion of serological test for detecting IgM-specific antibodies could help in solving diagnostic dilemma, especially in unvaccinated individuals from developing countries.