Validity of the GeneXpert MTB/RIF in Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis and Description of pulmonary TB Resistance Profile in Abbasia Chest Hospital

Abstract

cross sectional study was conducted in Abbasia chest hospital to study the validity of GenXpert and to compare it with validity of direct smear microscopy in diagnosing pulmonary TB. It also aimed to describe the resistance pattern and the treatment outcome of TB cases (January 2016 to February 2018). The study included 393 clinically suspected cases attending Abbasia chest hospital seeking medical care). All cases underwent direct smear microscopy, GX MTB/RIF and Lowenstein–Jensen Culture as Golden standard test for diagnosis of TB. The study revealed the, prevalence of TB among examined cases by TB culture (Golden Diagnostic test), sputum Microscopy and GenXpert assay to be 49.9%, 42.2% and 52.4% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the Genxpert were 91.8% and 86.8% respectively in diagnosis of TB with substantial agreement with the culture results was (78.6%). Genxpert also has a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 98.9% in diagnosing rifampicin resistant tuberculosis with substantial agreement of 96 % with the DST culture.