ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses development of automation in the mycobacteriology laboratory with the Bactec®system. The growth, identification, and susceptibility testing of mycobacteria using conventional methods are time consuming, primarily due to the characteristic slow growth of many members of the genus. Several studies comparing the Bactec®methods to conventional culturing methods have been reported. A total of 370 respiratory specimens were detected as culture positive either by conventional culture methods or by the radiometric technique. The radiometric method was more successful in detecting growth of M. tuberculosis and mycobacteria other than M. tuberculosis than conventional cultural methods. The development of a selective broth medium for the recovery of mycobacteria that could be used with clinical specimens in an automated system greatly contributed to the development of the Bactec®system for mycobacterial detection. A self-contained safety hood, purchased separately from the detection unit, is the only modification necessary to use the Bactec®460 blood culture system for mycobacterial detection.
