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Journal of Clinical Microbiology, June 1998, p. 1555-1559, Vol. 36, No. 6
0095-1137/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.

Variables Affecting Results of Sodium Chloride Tolerance Test for Identification of Rapidly Growing Mycobacteria

Patricia S. Conville* and Frank G. Witebsky

Microbiology Service, Clinical Pathology Department, Warren Grant Magnuson Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland

Received 30 December 1997/Returned for modification 27 January 1998/Accepted 10 March 1998

The sodium chloride tolerance test is often used in the identification of rapidly growing mycobacteria, particularly for distinguishing between Mycobacterium abscessus and Mycobacterium chelonae. This test, however, is frequently unreliable for the identification of some species. In this study we examined the following variables: medium manufacturer, inoculum concentration, and atmosphere and temperature of incubation. Results show that reliability is improved if the test and control slants are inoculated with an organism suspension spectrophotometrically equal to a 1 McFarland standard. Slants should be incubated at 35°C in ambient air and checked weekly for 4 weeks. Growth on control slants should be critically evaluated to determine the adequacy of the inoculum; colonies should number greater than 50. Salt-containing media should be examined carefully to detect pinpoint or tiny colonies, and colonies should number greater than 50 for a positive reaction. Concurrent use of a citrate slant may be helpful for distinguishing between M. abscessus and M. chelonae. Molecular methodologies are probably the most reliable means for the identification of rapidly growing mycobacteria and should be used, if possible, when unequivocal species identification is of particular importance.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Microbiology Service, Clinical Pathology Department, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Dr. MSC 1508, Bethesda, MD 20892-1508. Phone: (301) 496-4433. Fax: (301) 402-1886. E-mail: pconville{at}nih.gov.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, June 1998, p. 1555-1559, Vol. 36, No. 6
0095-1137/98/$04.00+0
Copyright © 1998, American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.


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