Skip to main content

Some NLM-NCBI services and products are experiencing heavy traffic, which may affect performance and availability. We apologize for the inconvenience and appreciate your patience. For assistance, please contact our Help Desk at info@ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology logoLink to Journal of Clinical Microbiology
. 1975 May;1(5):411–413. doi: 10.1128/jcm.1.5.411-413.1975

Use of cetylpyridinium chloride and sodium chloride for the decontamination of sputum specimens that are transported to the laboratory for the isolation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

R W Smithwick, C B Stratigos, H L David
PMCID: PMC275131  PMID: 809478

Abstract

A method is presented for the decontamination, liquefaction, and concentration of sputum specimens that are in transport more than 24 h. The method is inexpensive, and culture results compare well with those obtained with the accepted N-acetyl-L-cysteine and sodium hydroxide method for the isolation of tubercle bacilli. The working solution, 1% cetylpyridinium chloride and 2% sodium chloride, is mixed in equal volumes with sputum before the specimens are shipped. Tubercle bacilli remained viable after 8 days of exposure to this solution. Only Lowenstein-Jensen medium was used because the cetylpyridinium chloride in the inoculum remains active on 7H10 or other agar base media and partially inhibits the growth of tubercle bacilli.

Full text

PDF
411

Selected References

These references are in PubMed. This may not be the complete list of references from this article.

  1. Boulahbal F., Canetti G. Etude comparée de la coloration du bacille tuberculeux par la méthode de Ziehl-Neelsen et par la méthode en fluorescence dans l'examen des piéces d'exérèse pulmonaire. Arch Inst Pasteur Alger. 1971;49:37–50. [PubMed] [Google Scholar]
  2. KUBICA G. P., DYE W. E., COHN M. L., MIDDLEBROOK G. Sputum digestion and decontamination with N-acetyl-L-cysteine-sodium hydroxide for culture of mycobacteria. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1963 May;87:775–779. doi: 10.1164/arrd.1963.87.5.775. [DOI] [PubMed] [Google Scholar]

Articles from Journal of Clinical Microbiology are provided here courtesy of American Society for Microbiology (ASM)

RESOURCES