Microbiology Test Kits For TB

The kits are used in Sputum smear microscopyand the major kit used by all of these organizations is the ZN-TB STAIN PACK

For staining acid fast bacilli by the Zeihl-Neelsen technique, requirning the stain to be heated. This heating releases phenol vapours which are TOXIC and it is for this reason the KY-TB technique (below) is increasingly popular with technicians (no heating required).

The Ziehl–Neelsen stain, also known as the acid-fast stain, was first described by two German doctors; Franz Ziehl (1859 to 1926), a bacteriologist and Friedrich Neelsen (1854 to 1894), a pathologist. It is a special bacteriological stain used to identify acid-fast organisms, mainly Mycobacteria.

Mycobacterium tuberculosis is the most important of this group, as it is responsible for the disease called tuberculosis (TB) along with some others of this genus. It is helpful in diagnosing Mycobacterium tuberculosis since its lipid rich cell wall makes it resistant to Gram stain. It can also be used to stain few other bacteria like Nocardia. The reagents used are Ziehl–Neelsen carbol fuchsin, acid alcohol and methylene blue. Acid-fast bacilli will be bright red after staining.

Other kits include; KY-TB STAIN PACK for staining acid fast bacilli at Room Temperature. (Removes the need to heat the Primary stain reducing Phenol vapor contamination risk). Also used for Cryptosporidia staining;
TB-FLUORESCENT 1 - A high quality stable reagent set to demonstrate acid fast bacilli by Fluorescence microscopy. Our special formulation provides a highly stable primary stain reagent offering long shelf life. The Fluorescent method has been claimed to be more likely to reduce the chance of overlooking positive cases.