Optimising Xpert-Ultra and culture testing to reliably measure tuberculosis prevalence in the community: findings from surveys in Zambia and South Africa.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

Prevalence surveys remain the best way to assess the national tuberculosis (TB) burden in many countries. Challenges with using culture (the reference standard) for TB diagnosis in prevalence surveys have led to increasing use of molecular tests (Xpert assays), but discordance between these two tests has created problems for deciding which individuals have TB. We aimed to design an accurate diagnostic algorithm for TB prevalence surveys (TBPS) that limits the use of culture.

Design

TBPS in four communities, conducted during 2019.

Setting

Three Zambian communities and one South-African community included in the TBPS of the Tuberculosis Reduction through Expanded Anti-retroviral Treatment and Screening study.

Participants

Randomly sampled individuals a

SUBMITTER: Floyd S 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9207894 | biostudies-literature | 2022 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature