TABLE 1.

Preliminary reagent fixing test results

Smear material	No. of smears resulting in viable cultures after fixing for the indicated time (min) in the following reagenta:
	70% Ethanol		1% Phenol in ethanol		3% Phenol in ethanol		5% Phenol in ethanol
	5	10	5	10	5	10	5	10
M. tuberculosis sputum concentrates	2	0	1	0	0	0	0	0
M. tuberculosis LJ cultures	1	1	0	1	2	2	0	0

^aFor each sample, reagent, and time, four replicates were used. Results from two laboratories are combined.