The performance and yield of tuberculosis testing algorithms using microscopy, chest x-ray, and Xpert MTB/RIF.

ABSTRACT:

Setting

The introduction of Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) and renewed interest in chest x-ray (CXR) for tuberculosis testing has provided additional choices to the smear-based diagnostic algorithms used by TB programs previously. More programmatic data is needed to better understand the implications of possible approaches.

Objective

We sought to evaluate how different testing algorithms using microscopy, Xpert and CXR impacted the number of people detected with TB in a district hospital in Nepal.

Design

Consecutively recruited patients with TB-related symptoms were offered smear microscopy, CXR and Xpert. We tested six hypothetical algorithms and compared yield, bacteriologically positive (Bac+) cases missed, and tests conducted.

Results

Among 929 patients, Bac+ preval

SUBMITTER: Creswell J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6830149 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature