THE GLUTARALDEHYDE TEST AS A RAPID SCREENING METHOD FOR PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

When equal parts of EDTA-blood and 2.5% glutaraldehyde solution were mixed, a shorter gelification time was observed in blood from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis- diagnosed by clincial and X-ray examination-than in blood from patients with other respiratoru diseases or with non-respiratory diseases, or from healthy volunteers. Of atotal of 539 perons tested, 267 had pulmonary tuberculosis as judged by clinical and X-ray examination and 238 of these reaceted positively to the glutaraldehyde test with a gelification time of less than 10 minutes. When clincial examination and X-ray evaluation are used as bases for the diagnoses of pulmonary tuberculosis, the glutaradelhyde test gives a sensitivity of 89% and a specifity of 95%. It suggested that this simple and cheap method, together with clinical examination, might be a useful screening tool for identifying cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in peripheral health posts in developing countries where X-ray and other facilities are lacking.