Microsens Medtech Ltd, London, UK.
Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2010 Sep;14(9):1164-8.
Direct sputum smear microscopy is usually less sensitive than the indirect approach using concentration by centrifugation, but laboratories often do not have access to appropriate equipment. An alternative method of sample concentration has been developed based on magnetic beads coated with a polymeric ligand that binds mycobacteria species. The 'TB-Beads' technology allows manual sample preparation using simple magnetic separation equipment prior to microscopy.
The correlation between the TB-Beads protocol and indirect microscopy was 96.1% (124/129). The TB-Beads protocol was 89.4% (76/85) sensitive compared to culture and 77.8% (77/99) sensitive compared to clinical diagnosis.
Capture by magnetic particles yields a concentrated sample that is immobilised over a defined area of the slide, thereby aiding microscopic analysis. TB-Beads allow laboratories that currently perform comparatively insensitive direct microscopy to implement a concentration method that has the potential to improve TB detection rates.
直接痰涂片显微镜检查通常不如离心浓缩法间接检查敏感，但实验室通常无法获得合适的设备。已经开发出一种基于涂有与分枝杆菌属结合的聚合配体的磁性珠的替代样本浓缩方法。'TB-Beads' 技术允许在显微镜检查之前使用简单的磁性分离设备进行手动样本制备。
1）评估 TB-Beads 联合荧光金胺染色在世界卫生组织痰库热带病研究与培训特别规划（TDR）的 129 个冷冻盲样上的效果；2）将显微镜检查结果与间接显微镜检查、培养以及这些样本的现有临床数据进行比较。
TB-Beads 方案与间接显微镜检查的相关性为 96.1%（124/129）。TB-Beads 方案的敏感性分别为 89.4%（76/85），与培养相比为 77.8%（77/99），与临床诊断相比。
磁性颗粒的捕获可产生浓缩样本，该样本固定在载玻片的一个特定区域上，从而有助于显微镜分析。TB-Beads 允许目前进行相对不敏感的直接显微镜检查的实验室实施一种浓缩方法，有潜力提高结核病的检出率。
