Abstract
To investigate the application of Ziehl-Neelsen (Z-N) and fluorescent microscopy in detection of acid fast bacilli (AFB). Duplicate smears were prepared from 260 sputum samples and stained with Z-N and fluorescent staining (FS) methods. The efficiency of both methods in primary diagnosis of tuberculosis were evaluated. The smears were positive for AFB in 15 (5.77%) samples by Z-N staining method and in 16 (6.15%) samples by FS method. The sensitivity and specificity of Z-N staining method against FS method were 93.75% and 100% respectively. Though lesser cost-effective than Z-N, FS method is a more sensitive and better case finding tool in detection of AFB.
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