TABLE 1.
Results of culture for persistently smear-positive specimens and a control group
| Culture mediuma | No. (%) of correctly identified specimensb
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| S+/C+c | S+/C−c | S−/C−d | |
| LJ culture slants | 124 (44.2) | 151 (53.9) | 37 (92) |
| Alamar Blue culture tubes | 118 (42) | 141 (50) | 33 (82) |
| Malachite Green culture tubes | 116 (41) | 140 (50) | 35 (87) |
a
The sensitivities of the culture media were as follows: for LJ culture slants, 99%; for Alamar Blue culture tubes, 95%; and for Malachite Green culture tubes, 93%.
b
S+/C+, smear and culture positive; S+/C−, smear positive and culture negative; S−/C−, smear and culture negative.
c
A total of 280 patient sputum specimens were tested.
d
A total of 40 control sputum specimens were tested.