Primary processing of specimens and isolation and cultivation of mycobacteria.

Processing of specimens for mycobacteria need to proceed as rapidly as possible to provide 24 hour turnaround for smears and 21-day turnaround for the identification of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. If these goals are to be accomplished, a broth culture or microcolony plate method must be part of the media and in the planting process. Use of conventional solid media alone does not provide adequate turnaround time.