Objective:To study and evaluate the utilization of bacteriophage in rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in clinical samples.Methods:The titer of replicated phage with different methods in 24 or 48 hours were compared

including centrifuge-filter method and incubate-filter method with 0.2μm filter.When the phages were preserved at different conditions with various preservers

the titer was tested and compared in 28 weeks.Other agents of the method

including virucide and help bacteria(Mycobacterium smegmatis) were investigated at different time when they were preserved at 4℃.After the phage assay was established

34 sputum samples were tested by both phage assay and culture method in L-J medium.Based on the results of culture method

phage assay in detection of mycobacterium tuberculosis were evaluated by the sensitivity

specificity and accordance.Results:①The titer of replicated phage was high

when it had been collected after infected for 48 hours.The collection through incubation-filter method was simple and effect.② The phage stored at 4℃ with liquid form was stable

and the declined titer was not more than 101.when the preserver was phage’s host bacteria and it was stored at 4℃

it was as stable as that in dehydration form.③The important agents

including virucide and help bacteria

had the same character in 40 weeks

when they were stored at 4℃.④ Compared with the results of culture method

the sensitivity

specificity and accordance of phage assay in rapid detection of mycobacterium tuberculosis were 86.2%

66.7%

and 84.4% respectively.Conclusion:The phage assay could detect viable Mycobacterium tuberculosis of sputum samples in 48 hours.it is feasible to produce testing reagent box from the phage

and can be expected to be used for clinical.