Open AccessImproved diagnosis of Ziehl-Neelsen smear negative tuberculosis using sodium hypochlorite sedementation method
Author(s) -
W.A. Githui,
S.W. Matu,
L N Muthami,
E Juma
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
east african medical journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.102
H-Index - 40
ISSN - 0012-835X
DOI - 10.4314/eamj.v84i10.9562
Subject(s) - medicine , ziehl–neelsen stain , sputum , tuberculosis , positive predicative value , sodium hypochlorite , mycobacterium tuberculosis , gastroenterology , pathology , predictive value , acid fast , chemistry , organic chemistry
Bacteriological diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) is largely dependent on Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) microscopy. This method has a low sensitivity. Although concentration of sputum with sodium hypochlorite (NaOC1) followed by sedimentation increases the sensitivity of direct smear microscopy, no study has focused on the effect of NaOC1 on smear negative sputum specimens.