Use of Light‐Emitting Diode Fluorescence Microscopy to Detect Acid‐Fast Bacilli in Sputum

Abstract

Background. Fluorescence microscopy offers well-described benefits, compared with conventional light microscopy, for the evaluation of sputum smear samples for tuberculosis. However, its use in resource-limited settings has been limited by the high cost of the excitatory light source. We evaluated the diagnostic performance of fluorescence microscopy, using novel light-emitting diode (LED) technology as an alternative to the conventional mercury vapor lamp (MVP).