QBC F.A.S.T. TB Products

The F.A.S.T. AFB Smear Kits dramatically reduce conventional Auramine O smear preparation time from 20 minutes to 3 minutes while maintaining high sensitivity standards of fluorescence microscopy

QBC Fluorescence and Staining Technologies (F.A.S.T.)™ TB kits are designed to increase the speed and accuracy of TB staining and processing. F.A.S.T. AFB smear kits are integral to achieving DOTS goals of 70% smear-positive case detection and meeting the objectives established by the Stop TB Strategy.

The WHO and The Stop TB Partnership have both recommended the implementation of fluorescence microscopy for TB diagnosis^1. QBC F.A.S.T. TB kits can make that implementation easier and more effective.

1. Please see document attached - World Health Organisation Policy Statement on LED Microscopy for Diagnosis of Tuberculosis (March 2010)

Designed for use with the QBC Paralens Advance System

QBC F.A.S.T. Technology

With conventional Auramine O protocols, the staining, decolourisation and quenching process takes approximately 20 minutes, and the decolourisation reagent contains a high concentration of alcohol that introduces a significantly flammable hazard. The QBC F.A.S.T. AFB smear kit uses a proprietary auramine O stain and a non-flammable combination decolouriser/quenching agent to make a rapid four-step process that takes just over 2 minutes to complete:

1. Cover smear with F.A.S.T. Auramine O stain and let stand for 1 minute
2. Rinse gently with water
3. Cover smear with F.A.S.T. decolouriser/quencher and let stand for 1 minute
4. Rinse gently with water
5. Once the slide dries, the sample is ready for microscopic examination

• When staining with Auramine O, the acid fast bacteria (AFB), which cause TB to fluoresce brightly against a dark background, allows microscopists to easily identify them using lower magnification and with less eye strain than bright field methods such as Ziehl-Neelsen staining
• F.A.S.T. Auramine O stain can stain slides for review in less than 3 minutes, compared to 20 minutes with conventional fluorescence stains
• Die to its unique design, the F.A.S.T. Auramine O stain also results in brighter TB bacilli with less background fluorescence than standard stains
• The patent pending SureFocus™ microscope slides includes in each kit are designed with fluorescent markers that can help provide users with confidence in the accuracy of results as well as a guide for determining the number of fields viewed
• Altogeher, the benefits of the F.A.S.T. Auramine O stain kit and the SureFocus™ slides provides a significant advantage over bright field and conventional fluorescence microscopy methods

QBC F.A.S.T. Products: Documents

Please click here for further information on the F.A.S.T. product range and available documents

QBC F.A.S.T. Systems and Components

Download the QBC Complete Product Description List here