Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 22, 2025

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

81.5K

A Prospective Evaluation of Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra for Childhood Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Uganda

Devan Jaganath1,2,3, Peter Wambi4, Tania F Reza2,3

  • 1Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, University of California-San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA.

Journal of the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society
|January 8, 2021
PubMed

Insights

The Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra test shows promise for diagnosing childhood tuberculosis (TB). However, its sensitivity in detecting culture-negative TB in children requires further improvement for better pediatric TB diagnosis.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric infectious diseases
  • Diagnostic microbiology
  • Public health

Background:

  • Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Xpert Ultra) enhances tuberculosis (TB) detection sensitivity in adults.
  • Limited prospective studies evaluate Xpert Ultra's diagnostic accuracy in pediatric populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To prospectively evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of Xpert Ultra for pulmonary TB in children.
  • To compare Xpert Ultra performance against various reference standards.

Main Methods:

  • Children assessed for pulmonary TB in Kampala, Uganda, were enrolled over 12 months.
  • Diagnostic accuracy was determined using clinical, microbiological, and extended microbiological reference standards (MRSs).
  • Sensitivity and specificity were calculated for Xpert Ultra against Confirmed vs. Unlikely TB classifications.

Main Results:

  • Xpert Ultra sensitivity was 69.6% for Confirmed TB, decreasing to 23.4% with a clinical reference standard.
  • Specificity was 100% for Unlikely TB, decreasing to 94.7% with a MRS.
  • Sensitivity was 52.9% and specificity 95.5% with the extended MRS; 23.1% of positive results were 'Trace-positive'.

Conclusions:

  • Xpert Ultra is a valuable tool for diagnosing pulmonary TB in children.
  • Further development of more sensitive tests is needed for culture-negative pediatric TB.
Abstract

Keywords:
Xpert MTB/RIF Ultrachilddiagnosistuberculosis

More Related Videos

A Tuberculosis Molecular Bacterial Load Assay TB-MBLA10:41

A Tuberculosis Molecular Bacterial Load Assay TB-MBLA

Published on: April 30, 2020

14.5K
Author Spotlight: Optimizing CFU Determination for Efficient Assessment of TB Vaccine Efficacy and Antigen Presentation Analysis06:26

Author Spotlight: Optimizing CFU Determination for Efficient Assessment of TB Vaccine Efficacy and Antigen Presentation Analysis

Published on: July 28, 2023

2.7K

Related Concept Videos

Pulmonary Tuberculosis V01:28

Pulmonary Tuberculosis V

Medical management of tuberculosis (TB) patients involves a comprehensive approach that includes diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring. The specific strategies can vary depending on the type of tuberculosis (latent or active), the patient's overall health status, and other considerations.
Latent tuberculosis infection occurs when TB bacteria are present in a person's body, but are not causing illness or symptoms. It is not contagious, and preventive treatment is crucial to avoid the...
326
Pulmonary Tuberculosis IV01:26

Pulmonary Tuberculosis IV

Tuberculosis, more commonly referred to as TB, is an infectious disease stemming from Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While it primarily impacts the lungs, TB can also affect other body areas. Given its severity and global impact, timely and accurate diagnosis is crucial for controlling its spread and improving patient outcomes.
Several diagnostic approaches are used to detect TB. The conventional method is the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST), also known as the Mantoux test. However, this method has...
289
Pulmonary Tuberculosis I01:29

Pulmonary Tuberculosis I

Tuberculosis, often called TB, is a contagious illness primarily caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It mainly affects the lung parenchyma but can also impact other body parts.
Causative Organism
The primary infectious agent causing tuberculosis is Mycobacterium tuberculosis, a slow-growing, acid-fast, aerobic rod that exhibits sensitivity to heat and ultraviolet light. Instances of Mycobacterium bovis and Mycobacterium avium contributing to the development of TB infection are rare.
Mode of...
510
Pulmonary Tuberculosis II01:28

Pulmonary Tuberculosis II

Tuberculosis, or TB, is a bacterial infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. While its primary impact is on the lungs, leading to pulmonary tuberculosis, it can also affect various other organs, a condition referred to as extrapulmonary tuberculosis.
Here is a detailed explanation of its pathophysiology:
Transmission: The process begins when a person inhales droplet nuclei containing M. tuberculosis. These are typically released into the air when an individual with pulmonary or...
911
Pulmonary Tuberculosis III01:31

Pulmonary Tuberculosis III

Tuberculosis (TB) is a contagious infection primarily affecting the lung parenchyma but which can also affect other body parts. TB can be classified based on disease development, presentation, and the affected anatomical site.
The first classification is based on the development of the disease, and it includes the following categories:
609
Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion01:26

Pharmacokinetics in Pediatric Patients: Drug Excretion

In pediatric medicine, understanding the renal function and drug elimination nuances is crucial for administering safe and effective treatments. Newborns, in particular, display markedly slower renal functions than adults, profoundly affecting how drugs are cleared from their bodies. This slower drug clearance requires clinicians to extend the dosing intervals for many medications to prevent drug accumulation and toxicity while ensuring therapeutic efficacy.One key area where these adjustments...
109