Quantitative Assessment of Gene Xpert Assay with Sputum Microscopy
##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.main##
Abstract
Background: The assessment of mycobacterial burden plays a very important role in evaluating the infectiousness and severity of disease. Smear microscopy is used to assess the load of mycobacteria in the sputum sample by clinicians. Gene Xpert has been recommended by WHO as a first-line tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic test as an alternative to smear microscopy. Gene Xpert offers a quantitative estimation of mycobacterial load in the form of cycle threshold values (Ct).
Objective: To evaluate mycobacterial quantitation by Gene Xpert and compare with grades of staining methods.
Methods: This prospective comparative study was done in the Department of Microbiology and Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, SGT University, Budhera, Gurugram (Haryana) from November 2018 to May 2020. Early morning sputum samples were processed for smear microscopy (by Ziehl Neelsen Staining and Auramine Staining) and Gene Xpert as per the NTEP guidelines.
Results: A strong correlation was found between decreasing Ct values of Gene Xpert and increasing estimates of bacterial load by smear microscopy. The majority of low and very low Ct values quantified by Gene Xpert were negative by smear microscopy.
Keywords: ZN Staining, AO Staining, Gene Xpert, Ct Values.
##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.details##
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.