P01

Detection of mycobacteria from clinical samples requires a pre-processing step to prevent normal flora overgrowth. Our laboratory started using a commercial kit in the beginning of 2021 to lower the workload and improve quality. This study aims to evaluate the performance of MYCO-TB™ (Copan, Italy) in routine settings for digestion and decontamination of specimens using microscopy, liquid media (MGIT), solid media (Lowenstein-Jensen-I (LJ-I), Lowenstein-Jensen-II with pyruvate (LJ-II)) and molecular analysis (Xpert® MTB/RIF Ultra (Cepheid, USA)). Pulmonary and extra-pulmonary specimens with suspected mycobacterial infection submitted to the mycobacteriology laboratory of North Estonia Medical Centre were included. Specimens were processed using MYCO-TB kit according to manufacturer´s instructions with 3-10 minutes of decontamination time. Resuspended pellet was used for inoculation in MGIT, LJ-I/LJ-II, microscopy and Xpert MTB according to laboratory´s SOP. 105 specimens were treated with MYCO-TB kit. Microscopy was positive in 6/105 samples. Overall, 9/105 specimens yielded positive culture results (MGIT 9/105, LJ-I 5/90 and LJ-II 5/90). Positive cultures were identified as Mycobacterium tuberculosis (n=5) and Mycobacterium avium (n=4). The overall contamination rate (2,9%) was in line with currently available guidelines. 26/105 specimens were tested with the Xpert system after treatment with MYCO-TB, detecting three positive results. No invalid results were obtained. The MYCO-TB kit provides an easy and rapid digestion and decontamination process of pulmonary and extra-pulmonary specimens. Single use packages minimize the risk of cross-contamination. After processing, specimens can be used for microscopy, culture screening and the molecular tests.