title: The clinical utility of Xpert® MTB/RIF testing in induced sputum.
abstract: We performed a prospective clinical audit in hospitalised patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) with the objective of evaluating the accuracy and clinical utility of Xpert® MTB/RIF in induced sputum in an intermediate-burden setting. Of 450 patients audited, 61 (13.6%) were diagnosed with PTB based on positive culture. The sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values for Xpert in smear-negative cases for induced sputum were respectively 75%, 99.5%, 94.7% and 97.0%. Xpert in induced sputum may facilitate diagnostic yield and expedite treatment in up to a quarter of PTB patients.
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, University Medicine Cluster, National University Hospital, Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore.
authors.forename: M Y
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Chew
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, University Medicine Cluster, National University Hospital, Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, University Medicine Cluster, National University Hospital, Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore.
authors.forename: H-M
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Cai
authors.affiliation: Department of Rehabilitation, National University Hospital, Singapore.
authors.forename: T G
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.affiliation: Division of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, University Medicine Cluster, National University Hospital, Department of Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore.
authors.forename: T K
authors.initials: TK
authors.lastname: Lim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D054869:Clinical Audit; D006801:Humans; D025202:Molecular Diagnostic Techniques; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012846:Singapore; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis*