This cross-sectional study aimed to look into the sensitivity and specificity of Xpert Ultra assay to diagnose childhood pulmonary TB using stool specimen. Under this study, children under 15 years of age with signs and symptoms suggestive of TB (presumptive TB patients) were enrolled from four hospitals. Stool specimen and induced sputum were collected from presumptive child TB patients. These specimens were then transported to icddr,b’s mycobacteriology laboratory on the same day of specimen collection for laboratory tests performance. At the laboratory, after the processing of specimens, smear microscopy, Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay (Xpert Ultra) and culture tests were conducted. Data gathered from the laboratory tests were thus analyzed to infer the study findings.
The study found stool to be a superior specimen to induced sputum in childhood TB diagnosis by using Xpert Ultra. Among stool and induced sputum specimens, positivity of Xpert Ultra was higher in stool specimen (13.4%) than induced sputum (6.3%).
- To determine the sensitivity of Xpert Ultra test to diagnose childhood pulmonary TB compared to bacteriologically positive TB cases using stool specimen
- To determine the specificity of Xpert Ultra test to rule out childhood pulmonary TB compared to bacteriologically negative TB cases using stool specimen