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. 2019 Feb 1;65(1):14-20.
doi: 10.1093/tropej/fmy005.

Evaluation of Xpert MTB/RIF Assay for Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Children

Arghya Das  1 , Shampa Anupurba  1 , Om P Mishra  2 , Tuhina Banerjee  1 , Rajneesh Tripathi  1
Affiliations

Evaluation of Xpert MTB/RIF Assay for Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Children

Arghya Das et al. J Trop Pediatr. .

Abstract

Introduction: Childhood tuberculosis (TB) is now a global priority. With the advent of Xpert MTB/RIF, more TB cases in children are being reported. This study was undertaken to evaluate the performance of Xpert in diagnosis of pulmonary and extra-pulmonary TB in children.

Methods: Specimens from 171 suspected TB cases in children aged <15 years were tested with Xpert, culture and smear microscopy in the Department of Microbiology, Institute of Medical Sciences, India.

Results: The specimens included 106 gastric aspirates, 51 cerebrospinal fluids, 8 induced sputum and 6 lymph node aspirates. Xpert detected Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 19 cases (14 pulmonary and 5 extra-pulmonary), 7 of which were rifampicin-resistant. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of Xpert compared with culture were 88.89, 98.04, 84.21 and 98.68%, respectively. The sensitivity was 100% in children aged 1-5 years and 6-10 years and in gastric aspirates.

Conclusion: Xpert is an efficient diagnostic tool in childhood tuberculosis.

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