This
antibody consists of the purified IgG fraction and reacts with Mycobacterium
tuberculosis. The emergence of new strains of resistant Mycobacterium
tuberculosis has created new interest in clinical diagnosis. Immunohistochemical
staining of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded
tissues has been demonstrated. Studies have also shown immunohistochemical
techniques to be superior to conventional special stains. Thus the demonstration
of mycobacterial antigens are not only useful in establishing mycobacterial
aetiology, but also can be used as an alternative method to the conventional
Ziehl-Neelsen method. This antibody is reactive with other Mycobacteria species
including: M. avium, M phlei, and M. parafortuitum. This antibody is not
reactive with E. coli K12, Salmonella typhimurium, Pseudomonas aeruginosa,
Streptococcus (group B), Candida albicans and Neisseria
meningitides.