Xpert MTB/RIF assay can be used on archived gastric aspirate and induced sputum samples for sensitive diagnosis of paediatric tuberculosis

Table 1 Performance of Xpert MTB/RIF assay in bacteriologically positive and bacteriologically negative samples [combination of gastric aspirates (n = 260) and induced sputa (n = 260)] collected from children with probable intrathoracic tuberculosis

Bacteriological criteria (N = 520)	Sub-criteria	No. (%)	Xpert MTB/RIF Results
Bacteriological criteria (N = 520)	Sub-criteria	No. (%)	Positive (%)	Negative (%)
Bacteriologically positive (n = 127; 24.4 %)	Smear (+), culture (+)	23 (4.4)^{, *}	22 (95.7)	1 (4.3)
	Smear (−), culture (+)	104 (20)^*	65 (62.5)	39 (37.5)
	Smear (+), culture (−)	0	0	0
	Subtotal	127	87 (68.5)	40 (31.5)
Bacteriologically negative (n = 393; 75.5 %)	Smear (−), culture (−)	393	31 (7.9)	362 (92.1)
	Total	520	118 (22.7)^**	402 (77.3)

The table shows high efficacy of Xpert MTB/RIF in culture and smear positive samples but moderate detection rate in smear negative culture positive samples
^*,** P < 0.001, (+)- positive, (−)- Negative, number in parenthesis indicate percentage

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