Cord formation in BACTEC(TM) medium aids rapid identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex.
O'Hara, GA;
Abdullah, S;
Creer, DD;
Elsaghier, AF;
(2015)
Cord formation in BACTEC(TM) medium aids rapid identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex.
The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease, 19 (6).
pp. 709-710.
ISSN 1027-3719
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtld.14.0586
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Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC) organisms form serpentine cords in fluid culture medium. Reporting of a presumptive identification of MTC based on cording allows rapid identification of patients with tuberculosis. A total of 612 positive mycobacterial cultures from 316 patients over 3 years (2008-2010) were evaluated for the presence of cord formation. Cording was identified in 426 (69.6%) specimens, while the reference laboratory confirmed M. tuberculosis in 424 specimens (69.3%). Sensitivity of the test in our laboratory was 99.1% (95%CI 97.4-99.7) and specificity was 96.8% (95%CI 92.8-98.7). Presumptive identification of M. tuberculosis by the presence of cording formation is both sensitive and specific.
