Simple procedure for drug susceptibility testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis using a commercial colorimetic assay

• Published in: European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases Vol. 18; no. 5; pp. 380 - 383
• Main Authors: PALOMINO, J. C, PORTAELS, F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin Springer 01.05.1999; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Antibacterial agents; Antibiotics, Antitubercular - pharmacology; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Biological and medical sciences; Colorimetry; Evaluation Studies as Topic; Medical sciences; Microbial Sensitivity Tests - methods; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Mycobacterium tuberculosis - drug effects; Oxidation-reduction potential; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tuberculosis; Performance evaluation; Human; Streptomycin; Drug susceptibility test; Colorimetry; Mycobacterial infection; Method; In vitro; Infection; Sensitivity; Specificity; Rifampicin; Tuberculosis; Mycobacterium tuberculosis; Mycobacteriales; Aminoglycoside; Bacteriosis; Mycobacteriaceae; Bacteria; Ethambutol; Actinomycetes; Antituberculous agent; Antibacterial agent; Isoniazid
• ISSN: 0934-9723; 1435-4373
• DOI: 10.1007/PL00015025

The aim of this study was to evaluate a simple method using a commercial colorimetric assay (Alamar Blue Oxidation-Reduction Indicator; Accumed, USA) in a microtiter format for testing the susceptibility of 94 strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis to isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol and streptomycin. The method makes use of one critical concentration of each drug, and the results are available within 8-10 days. Overall, 97.1% agreement with the proportion method was obtained. Full agreement was obtained for isoniazid and rifampicin. The method is simple to perform, permits visual reading of results, and is practicable for laboratories with limited resources.