en عمومى General پژوهشي orginal article <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="line-height:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><b><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt">Background & Aims</span></i></b><b><span style="font-size:9.0pt">: </span></b>&nbsp;<span style="font-size:9.0pt">Tuberculosis is a significant health problem in developing countries like India, with lymphadenitis being the most common presentation among various types of extrapulmonary tuberculosis. This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of the modified bleach concentration method in detecting Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) compared to the conventional Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining method.</span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="line-height:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><b><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt">Materials & Methods:</span></i></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt"> A cross-sectional and observational study was conducted for six months, involving 146 cases of suspected clinical TB with lymphadenopathy referred for Fine-Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC). Aspirates were processed for direct microscopy using conventional ZN staining and routine cytology, and compared with the findings of the modified bleach method. The remaining material was subjected to Cartridge-Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test (CBNAAT) assay.</span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="line-height:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><b><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt">Results</span></i></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt">:</span> <span style="font-size:9.0pt">Among 146 cases, 44 cases were positive for AFB stain on conventional ZN staining, while 49 cases were positive for AFB using the modified bleach method. The modified bleach method showed a sensitivity of 98%, specificity of 98%, positive predictive value of 96%, and negative predictive value of 99% compared to CBNAAT.</span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="line-height:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><b><i><span style="font-size:9.0pt">Conclusion</span></i></b><span style="font-size:9.0pt">: The modified bleach method is more sensitive than the conventional Ziehl-Neelsen method and is efficient in demonstrating the presence of AFB on cytology smears. It is also safe, easy to perform, and inexpensive. Therefore, the modified bleach method can be a valuable tool in the diagnosis of TB lymphadenopathy.</span></span></span></span><br> <span style="font-size:12pt"><span style="background:#d9d9d9"><span style="line-height:16.0pt"><span style="font-family:&quot;Times New Roman&quot;,serif"><span style="font-size:9.0pt"></span></span></span></span></span> Acid Fast Bacilli, Ziehl-Neelson stain, Bleach, CBNAAT 291 298 http://ijrabms.umsu.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-407-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Harshavardan Surasura harsharockzzz1191@gmail.com 10031947532846003256 10031947532846003256 No Post Graduate, Department of Pathology, S.V. Medical College, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India Bharathi Sree M bharathi.svmc@gmail.com 10031947532846003257 10031947532846003257 No Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, S.V. Medical College, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India Anupama Vubbara anupam.sita@gmail.com 10031947532846003258 10031947532846003258 No Assistant Professor, Department of Pulmonary Medicine, S.V. Medical College, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India Sai Chandana Gali chandana.gali@gmail.com 10031947532846003259 10031947532846003259 Yes Assistant Professor, Department of Pathology, S.V. Medical College, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India Indrani Gattamneni indrani.g68@gmail.com 10031947532846003260 10031947532846003260 No Professor & HOD, Department of Pathology, S.V. Medical College, Tirupati, Andhra Pradesh, India