The feasibility of sputum transportation system in China: effect of sputum storage on the mycobacterial detection.

Yu Pang; Jian DU; Zhi Ying Zhang; Xi Chao OU; Qiang LI; Hui Xia; Yan QU; Yan Lin Zhao

Return

The feasibility of sputum transportation system in China: effect of sputum storage on the mycobacterial detection.

Author: Yu PANG ¹ ; Jian DU ² ; Zhi Ying ZHANG ³ ; Xi Chao OU ¹ ; Qiang LI ¹ ; Hui XIA ¹ ; Yan QU ¹ ; Yan Lin ZHAO ¹
Author Information

1. National Center for Tuberculosis Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 102206, China.
2. Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 101149, China.
3. China Office, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health, Beijing 100600, China.
Publication Type:Journal Article
MeSH: China; Feasibility Studies; Humans; Mycobacterium; isolation & purification; Specimen Handling; Sputum; microbiology; Transportation
From: Biomedical and Environmental Sciences 2014;27(12):982-986
CountryChina
Language:English
Abstract: Sputum transportation from county-level to prefecture-level is an ideal strategy to cover the shortage of the laboratory capability in the resource-poor setting. Here, we firstly evaluated the feasibility of sputum transportation system in China by analyzing the culture and molecular diagnosis results from 1982 smear-positive patients with different delay in processing for culture. In this study, the total contamination rate was 2.32% and the total smear positive/culture negative (S+/C-) rate was 7.57%. We found that sputum specimens refrigerated for no more than 7 d before mycobacterial detection did not affect culture significantly. In addition, the invalid result rates among 0-3 d, 3-7 d, and 7+ d group were 3.63%, 3.14%, and 12.48%, respectively. Statistic analysis revealed that molecular diagnostic results while the invalid result rate of genechip for the specimen with more than 7 d delay was significantly higher (P<0.001). The refrigerators equipped in county laboratories, transport at low temperature and frequent transport services once a week will ensure the feasibility of sputum transportation system in China.