title: Diagnostic Accuracy of Xpert Test in Tuberculosis Detection: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  World Health Organization (WHO) recommends the use of Xpert MTB/RIF assay for rapid diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) and detection of rifampicin resistance. This systematic review was done to know about the diagnostic accuracy and cost-effectiveness of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay.
  
  
  METHODS
  A systematic literature search was conducted in following databases: Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials and Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE, PUBMED, Scopus, Science Direct and Google Scholar for relevant studies for studies published between 2010 and December 2014. Studies given in the systematic reviews were accessed separately and used for analysis. Selection of studies, data extraction and assessment of quality of included studies was performed independently by two reviewers. Studies evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of Xpert MTB/RIF assay among adult or predominantly adult patients (≥14 years), presumed to have pulmonary TB with or without HIV infection were included in the review. Also, studies that had assessed the diagnostic accuracy of Xpert MTB/RIF assay using sputum and other respiratory specimens were included.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The included studies had a low risk of any form of bias, showing that findings are of high scientific validity and credibility. Quantitative analysis of 37 included studies shows that Xpert MTB/RIF is an accurate diagnostic test for TB and detection of rifampicin resistance.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Xpert MTB/RIF assay is a robust, sensitive and specific test for accurate diagnosis of tuberculosis as compared to conventional tests like culture and microscopic examination.
authors.affiliation: Fellow - HTA, India.
authors.forename: Ravdeep
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kaur
authors.affiliation: Healthcare Technology (Health Technology Assessment) WHO Collaborating Center for Policy Medical Devices and Health Technology Policy National Health Systems Resource Center, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Kavita
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kachroo
authors.affiliation: Healthcare Technology (Health Technology Assessment) WHO Collaborating Center for Policy Medical Devices and Health Technology Policy National Health Systems Resource Center, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, New Delhi, India.
authors.forename: Jitendar Kumar
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: MarksMan Healthcare Solutions, HEOR and RWE Consulting, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Satyanarayana Murthy
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Vatturi
authors.affiliation: MarksMan Healthcare Solutions, HEOR and RWE Consulting, Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra, India.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dang
keywords: Diagnosis; Tuberculosis; Xpert MTB/RIF assay