A Comparison of Ziehl-Neelsen Staining and Fluorescent Microscopy For Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis: Comparing Ziehl-Neelsen and Fluorescent Microscopy for Pulmonary Tuberculosis Diagnosis

Abstract

According to WHO one third of the world population have tuberculosis.The present study was undertaken to compare the efficacy of fluroescent stainwith Z-N stain in the diagnosis of pulmonary. 793 cases of suspected pulmonarytuberculosis were included in the study. All samples were screen for Acid FastBacilli (AFB) by Z-N & Fluorescent staining methods. Positive samplesdetected by fluorescent stain were 121(15.22%) when compared to Zn stain71(8.95%). Conclusion Compared to Z-N stain(8.95%). flurochrome staining was found to be more efficient (15.22%) in AFBdetection of AFB from cases of Pulmonary Tuberculosis. Keywords: acid-fast bacilli;auramine-0; fluorescence; microscopy; tuberculosis; Ziehl-Neelsen.