Objective: To assess new fluorescent technique in comparison with conventional ZN technique to improve detection of mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) in Sudan.
Methodology: This case control study was conducted at Khartoum state Hospitals during December 2010. Three sputum samples were collected on 2 consecutive days from each one of 80 patient and was stained by ZN stain and fluorescent stain.
Results: From 80 patients suspected of tuberculosis, proportion of positive smears that detected were 17% and 33% for the ZN and auramine – O staining methods. The mean time of ZN technique in reading the result was 101 sec compared with fluorescent technique in reading of the result was 33.1 sec.
Conclusion: Fluorescent stain is more sensitive by 16% than ZN stain for diagnosis of TB. Fluorescent stain is three times rapid in detection more than ZN stain. Using this method to diagnose TB will be easy and less time consuming and will give accurate result.
