IS6110 dot blot hybridization for the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex

To explore a simple, rapid, and inexpensive way to identify Mycobacterium t uberculosis complex culture, dot blot hybridization using IS6110 as the mar ker was performed against 2788 known clinical isolates of mycobacteria incl uding M. tuberculosis (n = 721), M. kansasii (177), M. marinum (10), M. avi um complex (700), M. terrae complex (203), M. fortuitum (476), M. chelonae (439), and other nonpigmented Runyon's Group IV mycobacteria (62). We found that the sensitivity and specificity of the test were 94.3% and 100%, resp ectively. When this method was evaluated in a laboratory blind study of 125 3 initially unknown clinical isolates, its sensitivity and specificity were 91.2% and 100%, respectively. Because this identification test is technica lly simple, rapid, and can be done in batches, together with ifs high sensi tivity and specificity, it is a cost-effective method for routine identific ation of M. tuberculosis complex in laboratories of areas with a high incid ence of tuberculosis. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc.