Abstract: Objective To investigate the application value of liquid-based collecting bacterium technique in detecting the acid-fast bacilli. Methods152 clinical samples (including 100 sputa, 23 bronchial lavage liquid, 7 cerebrospinal fluid and 22 pleural effusion) were all from the inpatients, outpatients and emergency patients, which were selected according doctor's advice. Every sample was dealed with parallel both by liquid-based collecting bacterium technique and direct-smear staining method. ResultsThe positive rate of liquid-based collecting bacterium technique was 15.8%, which was significant higher than that by the direct-smear staining method (6.6%,P<0.01). The positive samples detected by direct-smear staining method were the same as the Results obtained by liquid-based collecting bacterium technique. And the positive samples detected by liquid-based collecting bacterium technique were all from the patients with tuberculosis or the tuberculosis hypochondriasis. The result obtained by liquid-based collecting bacterium technique was accordant with the clinical diagnosis. The liquid-based collecting bacterium technique could find more bacilli, get better effect compared with the direct-smear staining method.ConclusionThe liquid-based collecting bacterium technique might be a simple, safe, sensitive, effective new bacteriological method. It is worthy to be recommended in clinical use.

Key words: bacillus, tuberculosis, liquid-based collecting bacterium technique, slice production technique, direct-smear