USE OF NUCLEIC-ACID PROBES TO IDENTIFY MYCOBACTERIA DIRECTLY FROM DIFCO ESP-MYCO BOTTLES

Mycobacterial isolates were identified directly from positive ESP-Myco bottles by use of nucleic acid probes. Retrospective analysis of 360 cultures which grew either Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M, avium comple x, or M. gordonae showed that 87% were identified by direct testing of an aliquot obtained at the time a positive culture was detected. Anot her 12% of these cultures gave results in the equivocal range, with on ly 1% of the isolates yielding negative results on initial testing.