Clinical Relevance of Trace-Positive Results in Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra for Tuberculosis Diagnosis in a High-Burden Setting: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT: Background: The introduction of the "trace" category in the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay has significantly improved the sensitivity of molecular tuberculosis diagnostics. While it enhances sensitivity, especially in paucibacillary and extrapulmonary cases, its specificity remains debatable, making its interpretation outside select populations a topic of clinical uncertainty. Objectives: This study evaluates the diagnostic and clinical significance of trace-positive results obtained with the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay in the context of a high-incidence TB setting, examining their association with clinical, imaging, and microbiological findings. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 65 samples with trace-positive Xpert Ultra results, collected over a six-year pe

SUBMITTER: Sava C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12651064 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature