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Diagnosing Pulmonary Tuberculosis with the Xpert MTB/RIF Test
08:10

Diagnosing Pulmonary Tuberculosis with the Xpert MTB/RIF Test

Published on: April 9, 2012

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Xpert(®) MTB/RIF assay for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in children

M Singh1, G R Sethi2, M Mantan2

  • 1Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India.

The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease : the Official Journal of the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
|May 8, 2016
PubMed

Insights

The Xpert MTB/RIF assay shows high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing paediatric pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). This rapid point-of-care test can significantly aid in diagnosing PTB in children.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Diagnostics
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Pediatric Pulmonology

Background:

  • Accurate diagnosis of paediatric pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is challenging.
  • Rapid and reliable diagnostic tools are crucial for effective PTB management in children.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay for diagnosing PTB in children.
  • To compare Xpert MTB/RIF assay results with MGIT™ culture as the gold standard.

Main Methods:

  • A study was conducted with 50 children (aged 0-14 years) suspected of having PTB.
  • Sputum and gastric lavage samples were tested using direct smear, MGIT culture, and Xpert MTB/RIF assay.
  • Diagnosis of PTB was established using the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) algorithm, with Xpert performance assessed against MGIT culture.

Main Results:

  • Of 50 participants, 23 (46%) were diagnosed with PTB. The Xpert MTB/RIF assay correctly identified 69.5% of these cases.
  • The Xpert MTB/RIF assay demonstrated a sensitivity of 91.6% and a specificity of 86.8% when compared to MGIT culture.
  • No false positives were observed in the 'not PTB' group.

Conclusions:

  • The Xpert MTB/RIF assay is a sensitive and specific diagnostic tool for paediatric pulmonary tuberculosis.
  • This assay enables definitive diagnosis in nearly 70% of PTB cases within 2 hours, highlighting its value as a point-of-care test.
Abstract

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