Xpert MTB/RIF assay for the diagnosis of extra pulmonary tuberculosis

Vivekananthan Chandramohan; Prabhakaran Rathinam; PooranaGangaDevi NavaneethaPandian; Mahalakshmi Rajendran; BharathiBabu Karunaikadal; Elamparuthi Sankaralingom

Volume : VIII, Issue : III, March - 2019

Xpert MTB/RIF assay for the diagnosis of extra pulmonary tuberculosis

Vivekananthan Chandramohan, Prabhakaran Rathinam, Pooranagangadevi Navaneethapandian, Mahalakshmi Rajendran, Bharathibabu Karunaikadal, Elamparuthi Sankaralingom

Abstract :

Detecting patients with active Tuberculosis (TB) disease is an important component of tuberculosis control programs, as early diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis is essential in reducing the morbidity, mortality and the escalating costs associated with advanced disease. We conducted this study to access the usefulness of Gene Xpert MTB/RIF assay technique in the diagnosis of tuberculosis and rifampicin (Rif) resistance. We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records and rapid diagnostic results of all patients with suspected Tuberculosis who visited the pulmonary clinic of Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH), Madurai from January 2017 to June 2017. Various extra pulmonary specimens were collected under aseptic precautions. These Xpert MTB/RIF samples were processed according to the manufacturer�s specifications. A total of 79 consecutive extra pulmonary clinical samples were included. Out of 79 samples, 16 (21%) tested positive for M.tuberculosis. All these 16 positive samples were found to be Rif sensitive. This study shows that GenXpert is useful in the early diagnosis of Rif sensitivity in extrapulmonary specimens.