The rate of recovery and the mean time to detection of mycobacteria in clinical specimens were determined in a newly-developed MB Redox system based on liquid medium, and the results were compared with those of MGIT and 2 % Ogawa egg media. From 587 sputum specimens processed, totally 203 mycobacterial isolates were detected, of which 177 (87.2% ) with MB Redox, 185 (91.1%) with MGIT and 133 (65.6%) with 2 % Ogawa medium. The difference in the percentages of positive cultures between either of

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... he two liquid media and 2 % Ogawa medium was significant (p<0.0001). The mean time to detection of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex was 17.5 days with MB Redox, 18.7 days with MGIT, and 26.2 days with 2 % Ogawa medium. The contamination rates were 1.5, 1.7, and 4.1 % for MB Redox, MGIT, and 2 % Ogawa medium, respectively. In conclusion, both MB Redox and MGIT systems, based on liquid medium, are more efficient than 2 % Ogawa medium for the recovery of mycobacteria in clinical specimens.