Authors: Sohn, H.¹; Sinthuwattanawibool, C.²; Rienthong, S.³; Varma, J.K.⁴

Source: The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 13, Number 2, February 2009 , pp. 266-268(3)

Publisher: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

Abstract:

Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) microscopy is the primary method for acid-fast bacilli examination in resource-limited settings, including Thailand. Despite its considerably improved diagnostic performance, conventional fluorescent microscopy (FM) is rarely used due to its perceived high cost. An evaluation in Thailand found that the total cost of FM operated in the National Tuberculosis Reference Laboratory (NTRL) in Bangkok, Thailand, is similar to that of ZN performed in the NTRL and in four regional Thai laboratories. FM is therefore a cost-effective alternative to ZN in resource-limited settings.

Keywords: tuberculosis; Thailand; cost; microscopy; diagnosis; fluorescence; Ziehl-Neelsen

Document Type: Short communication

Affiliations: 1: Independent consultant, Daegu, Republic of Korea 2: Thailand Ministry of Public Health-US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Collaboration, Bangkok, Thailand 3: Thailand Ministry of Public Health, Nonthaburi, Thailand 4: Thailand Ministry of Public Health-US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Collaboration, Bangkok, Thailand; and US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA

Publication date: 2009-02-01

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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.

  Certain IJTLD articles are selected for translation into French, Spanish, Chinese or Russian. They are available on the Union website

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