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Prospective evaluation of thin-layer agar colour test in routine diagnosis of multidrug-resistant TB.

Klaos K, Agejeva A, Hurt K, Kummik T, Kurve A, Nirk J, Pehme L, Remets O et al.

The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, 2024

Abstract

BACKGROUNDThis study evaluated the diagnostic performance of the thin-layer agar MDR/XDR-TB Colour Test (CT), a Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) detection and direct drug susceptibility testing (DST) method with routine sputum, bronchoalveolar lavage and pleural fluid specimen.METHODSIn a prospective study, the time and rate of MTBC detection were compared between CT, Löwenstein-Jensen, and MGIT media. Times until DST result, sensitivities, and specificities were evaluated between CT and MGIT 960 indirect DST.RESULTSThe cultivation of 177 pulmonary specimens resulted in 83 MTBC-positive cultures. The sensitivity of CT for MTBC detection was 81.3% with a median time of 20 days compared to 13 days and 93.5% for MGIT. The sensitivity of CT for DST results was 100% for isoniazid and levofloxacin and 94.7% for rifampicin. The specificities for isoniazid and rifampicin DST were 97.3% and 98.0% for levofloxacin. The median time until a DST result was significantly shorter with CT than the BACTEC MGIT 960 system, 20 and 27 days, respectively, independent of the specimen type used.CONCLUSIONSThe CT is a highly accurate and fast initial diagnostic test for high-incidence settings and could also be used as a first culture and direct DST in peripheral settings..

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Evidence Hub reads this as a cohort study, done in people. Its evidence level is 3 of 5 (Moderate · trial / cohort / secondary analysis). Trials without a large randomized design, cohorts and secondary analyses give moderate evidence.

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