Differential Identification of Mycobacteria

A simplified, taxonomic scheme is presented that enables the identification of most clinically important mycobacteria recovered from man. the scheme, based upon speed of growth and 11 other easy tests, evolved from a more detailed numerical taxonomy that incorporated 82 taxonomic characters. A total of 1,250 (88 per cent) of the 1,420 cultures examined were correctly identified by the abbreviated scheme and only 0.5 per cent (7) of the potentially pathogenic strains were mislabelled as nonpathogens. the other mislabelled organisms, methods to circumvent these problems (if necessary), and the reliability of each key test in the present context is discussed.