Authors: Zhao, Y.L.¹; Liu, Y.H.¹; Jiang, G.L.¹; Chan, W.Y.²; Yip, C.W.²; Kam, K.M.²

Source: The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 13, Number 1, January 2009 , pp. 126-129(4)

Publisher: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

Abstract:

SETTING: In-use carbol fuchsin stains were collected from 10 different routine acid-fast bacilli smear microscopy laboratories.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the variations in the composition of carbol fuchsin stains.

METHOD: Carbol fuchsin concentrations were first determined spectrophotometrically by measuring absorbance at 547 nm. High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) separated and quantified the four basic fuchsin homologues: para-rosaniline, rosaniline, magenta II and new fuchsin, and identity was confirmed by mass spectrometry (MS).

RESULTS: Absorbance measurement showed that three of 10 (30%) samples contained insufficient carbol fuchsin (<70%). Wide variations in relative proportions of fuchsin homologues were found.

CONCLUSION: The relative abundance of rosaniline + new fuchsin was quite stable among the different laboratories. Spectrophotometry and HPLC/MS are necessary and sensitive tools for monitoring fuchsin quality.

Keywords: carbol fuchsin; quality; HPLC; spectrophotometry

Document Type: Regular paper

Affiliations: 1: National Reference Laboratory, Beijing Chest Disease and Tumour Hospital, Beijing, China 2: Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory, Centre for Health Protection, Department of Health, Hong Kong, China

Publication date: 2009-01-01

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• The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease publishes articles on all aspects of lung health, including public health-related issues such as training programmes, cost-benefit analysis, legislation, epidemiology, intervention studies and health systems research. The IJTLD is dedicated to the continuing education of physicians and health personnel and the dissemination of information on tuberculosis and lung health world-wide.

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