TABLE 2.

Comparison of microscopy, culture, and PCR for detection of M. tuberculosis in 26 clinical samples

Sample status (n)	ATC		HBTC
	No. of samples PCR+	No. of samples with inhibitors	No. of samples PCR+	No. of samples with inhibitors
Smear+, culture+ (8)	8	0	7	1a
Smear−, culture+ (6)	2	0	1	2a
Smear+, culture− (2)b	0	0	0	0
Smear−, culture− (10)	0	1	0	7

^aIncludes one specimen containing inhibitors not removed by chloroform treatment; PCR therefore nonevaluable. 

^bSpecimens grew M. malmoense.