A COMPARISON OF SPUTUM EXAMINATION FOR ACID-FAST BACILLI BY MODIFIED SCHAEFFER AND FULTON STAIN, ZIEHL-NEELSEN STAIN AND COLD STAIN

A comparative study of Ziehl-Neelsen slain, cold stain and modified Sc haeffer and Fulton stain was carried out to evaluate the efficiency of modified Schaeffer and Fulton method in sputum examination for acid f ast bacilli (AFB). Of 187 sputum samples studied, 67 (35.82%) were rep orted positive by Ziehl-Neelsen stain acid cold slain method while 66 (35.29%) were reported positive by modified Schaeffer and Fulton metho d. In comparison with Ziehl-Neelsen staining, 98.58 per cent positivit y was reported by modified Schaeffer and Fulton method. Modified Schae ffer and Fulton method is found to be simple, reliable, less expensive and as efficient as Ziehl-Neelsen stain and cold stain for demonstrat ion of acid fast bacilli in sputum.