DIRECT IDENTIFICATION OF MYCOBACTERIUM SPECIES IN BACTEC 7H12B MEDIUMBY GAS-LIQUID-CHROMATOGRAPHY

Twenty-nine Mycobacterium reference strains representing 10 species an d 60 mycobacterial cultures isolated from sputum specimens were studie d. These cultures were grown in Bactec 7H12B medium (Becton Dickinson and Co., Paramus, N.J.) supplemented with oleic acid-albumin-dextrose- catalase enrichment broth (Becton Dickinson and Co., Cockeysville, Md. ). The cultures were analyzed by gas-liquid chromatography for their f atty acids, secondary alcohols, and mycolic acid cleavage products, Al l of the clinical isolates could be identified by comparing their gas- liquid chromatography profiles with those of the reference strains. Th e data indicate that this method significantly shortens the turnaround time and could be used for the early detection and identification of mycobacterial species.