Effect of 1.5% sodium hydroxide final concentration on recovery rate of Mycobacterial Species and decontamination of other Bacterial and Fungal contaminants on sputum.

Background Digestion and decontamination of non-sterile clinical specimens such as sputum are an essential step in the isolation of mycobacteria. Masking of mycobacteria in Mycobacterial growth indicator tube (MGIT) 960 liquid culture system by fungi and bacteria other than mycobacteria is a major problem.