A Test for More Accurate Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis

OBJECTIVES: and rifampicin (MTB/RIF) Ultra assay has increasingly been used in adult tuberculosis diagnosis, but data relating to its diagnostic accuracy in children are lacking. Because a qualified sputum specimen is difficult to obtain in children, this study evaluated the diagnostic value of Ultra in childhood tuberculosis using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. METHODS: The accuracy of Ultra was calculated by using bacteriologic results and clinical evidence as reference standards. Concordance between Ultra and Xpert MTB/RIF assays was assessed by using к coefficients. RESULTS: = .03; OR = 0.18) of antituberculosis treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Ultra using bronchoalveolar lavage fluid has good sensitivity compared with bacteriologic tests and adds clinical value by assisting the rapid and accurate diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis in children.