A RAPID AND INEXPENSIVE METHOD FOR PROCESSING INDUCED SPUTUM FOR DETECTION OF PNEUMOCYSTIS-CARINII

The authors describe a method to process induced sputum specimens For detection of Pneumocystis carinii which is simple, rapid and inexpensi ve. Induced sputum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) were obtained with in a 24-four hour period from 41 patients who were HIV-positive and ha d pulmonary symptoms suspicious for P carinii pneumonia. Induced sputu m or BAL fluid was placed into Saccomanno's fixative, blended, and cen trifuged. The sediment mns stained for P carinii cysts by a modified m ethod with Fungi-Floor Solution A (Poly-sciences, Warington, PA) and t he Genetic Systems Pneumocystis carinii Immunofluorescence Antibody (G enetic Systems, Seattle, WA). The Genetic Systems stain on the BAL spe cimen aas positive in 35 patients and was the standard for comparison, With a single induced sputum, the Genetic Systems stain detected 31 ( 89%) positive patients, whereas the Fungi-Fluor stain detected 21 (60% ). The sensitivity for detecting P carinii cysts in induced sputum was significantly greater (P < .05) for the Genetic Systems stain.