Optimal processing of tongue swab samples for <i>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</i> detection by the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay.

ABSTRACT: Tongue swabs represent a potential alternative to sputum as a sample type for detecting pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) with molecular diagnostic tests. The methods used to process tongue swabs for testing in the World Health Organization-recommended Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Xpert Ultra) assay vary greatly. Here, we aimed to identify the optimal tongue swab processing for Xpert Ultra testing. We compared four methods for treating dry tongue swabs with the Xpert Sample Reagent (SR) mixed with various concentrations of Tris-EDTA-Tween to treatment with SR alone or to a commonly used heat inactivation protocol. In each condition, swabs obtained from volunteers without TB were placed into test buffer spiked with known amounts of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) H37Rv-mc²6230.

SUBMITTER: Chilambi GS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11878016 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature