The Carbolfuchsin Color Reaction

Park, Key Ha; Lee, Hak Song

Abstract

The color reaction characteristic of renal tuberculosis was derived by J. Desbordes in 1952 and its clinical value in the diagnosis of genitourinary tuberculosis was confirmed by Yamata-Nagamoto in 1953. The author examined the reaction on renal tuberculosis and lung tuberculosis and leprosy and other various non-tubercular diseases and the method and the results are shown as follows:
METHODS
Place 2cc of fresh urine in a small test tube, add 1 or 2 drops of 10% formalin solution, and then 1 drop of Ziehl's carbolfuchsin solution. If purple or violet-red precipitation is present in the test tube, it is positive reaction, if color of fuchsin only, it is negative. When the urine is cloudy, centrifuged or filtered urine should be used for this color reaction.
RESULTS
(1) Carbolfuchsin color reaction in the urine of the patients with tuberculosis is present in higher percentage, and the reaction shows positive or weak in the all cases of renal tuberculosis. (2) This color reaction occurs frequently in the urine of the patients with leprosy (3) This color reaction is negative in the diluted solution of tuberculin.