[The value of guinea pig inoculation for the detection of tubercle bacilli in the patients specimens (author's transl)].

5912 specimens were examined by culture and animal experiment and the presence of tubercle bacilli was established with one or the other with both methods. An analysis of the results showed, that guinea pig tests in 29.1% of the cases were more accurate than were cultural methods. Experimental inoculation is, therefore, still an essential part of the laboratory diagnosis of tuberculosis. Materials which are either difficult to obtain, or are suspected to contain few mycobacteria only should be tested further by guinea pig inoculation.