A modified decontamination and storage method for sputum from patients with tuberculosis

Journal article

BackgroundCollecting and storing large number of sputum samples with a view to culturing these in the future requires an efficient initial handling method. We devised a modified sputum digestion and decontamination method that maximised storage capacity and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb) recovery from culture while minimising laboratory workload and risk of contamination.MethodsWe collected smear microscopy positive sputum samples from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The sputum samples were split and processed using both the standard N-Acetyl-L-cysteine and sodium hydroxide (NALC-NaOH) method and our modified method before freezing and later culturing in BD BACTEC 960 Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tubes (MGIT) system. We assessed the Time to Positivity (TPP) and Growth Unit (GU) data.ResultsWe selected 22 sputum samples to compare two digestion and decontamination methods. The samples that underwent the modified method had longer TTP (p ConclusionsOur modified method yielded acceptable M.tb recovery rate and low contamination risk while allowing us to collect and store thousands of sputum samples over a long period of time for future tests.

Authors: Le Quang, N; Dang Anh Thu, D; Pham Tien Trieu, L; Hong Hanh, N; Huu Lan, N

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Journal: Wellcome Open Research
• Volume: 8
• Pages: 166
• Publication date: 2023-01-01
• DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.18888.2
• ISSN: 2398-502X
• Pmid: 39211526
• Language: English
• Keywords: Tuberculosis; Sputum Decontamination; Sputum Digestion; Sputum Frozen Storage