QBC ParaLens TM LED fluorescent microscope attachment with QBC F.A.S.T.TM AFB staining system

This study was designed to evaluate the QBC ParaLensTM LED fluorescent microscope attachment and the QBC F.A.S.T.TM AFB staining system for the detection of Acid Fast Bacilli in pathological samples in Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire. A total of 50 patients were tested using direct smear specimens with both Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) light microscopy and LED fluorescence microscopy with QBC F.A.S.T. AFB stain. The samples were also cultured and tested using an immunochromatograpic test for detection of antigen MPT 64 and the results were compared to direct examination. ZN light microscopy detected 20 positive cases and LED fluorescent microscopy with QBC F.A.S.T. AFB stain detected 21. The sensitivity and specificity of ZN light microscopy was determined to be 84.2% and 87.1% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of LED fluorescent microscopy with QBC F.A.S.T. AFB stain was determined to be 94.7% and 90.3% respectively. Compared to ZN light microscopy, LED fluorescent microscopy with QBC F.A.S.T. AFB stain increased the sensitivity of direct examination without concentration by 10.5%.