GAS-CHROMATOGRAPHIC MASS-SPECTROMETRIC STUDY OF LIPIDS AND RAPID DIAGNOSIS OF MYCOBACTERIUM-TUBERCULOSIS

The method suggested is based on the identification of tuberculosteari c acid as a Mycobacterium tuberculosis marker. Bacterial culture and s putum of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and lung diseases of non -tuberculous etiology were investigated. A complete coincidence of the results of bacteriological and gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) methods used in examining a group of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis was found. GC-MS ion monitoring provides a highly sensiti ve and rapid technique for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.