MYCOBACTERIUM GROWTH INDICATOR TUBE TESTING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE ACCUPROBE OR THE AMPLICOR-PCR ASSAY FOR DETECTING AND IDENTIFYING MYCOBACTERIA FROM SPUTUM SAMPLES

We have compared the ability of the Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tub e (MGIT) system, a new culture method with an oxygen-sensitive fluores cent sensor, to recover mycobacteria From sputum samples with the abil ities of egg-based medium and the Septi-Chek AFB system, We have also assessed the clinical utility of the AccuProbe or the AMPLICOR-PCR ass ay to directly identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and M. aviu m-M. intracellulare complex (MAC) from positive MGITs, From 382 sputum samples, 99 isolates of M. tuberculosis complex and 20 isolates of MA C were recovered. The MGIT system had the highest recovery rates for M . tuberculosis complex (97,0%) and MAC (100%), compared to recovery ra tes of 51.5 and 65.0%, respectively, with the egg-eased medium and 81. 8 and 85.0%. respectively, with the Septi-Chek AFB system. The shortes t recovery times were also achieved with the MGIT system: 16.6 days fo r M. tuberculosis complex and 12.0 days for MAC, compared to 27,1 and 20.1 days, respectively, with the egg-based medium and 21.4 and 13.2 d ays, respectively, with the Septi-Chek AFB system. The AccuProbe ident ified 74 (77.1%) of the 96 hi. tuberculosis complex-positive MGITs and 17 (85.0%) of the 20 MAC-positive vials. The AMPLICOR system correctl y identified 94 (97.9%) of the 96 ill. tuberculosis complex-positive M GITs and all 20 MAC-positive vials. Therefore, the MGIT system used in conjunction with the AMPLICOR system is a rapid and sensitive method for detecting and identifying M. tuberculosis complex and MAC isolates from sputum samples.