BACKGROUND: The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) remains high in many countries, including some middle- and high-income countries without financial constraints for diagnosis and treatment. The implementation of an improved algorithm for diagnosis using 2 rapid molecular tests should help reduce the TB burden.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Between April 2018 and March 2019, sputum samples from 711 patients suspected of TB in Nanshan, Shenzhen, China, were included in this prospective study. All sputum samples were examined by smear microscopy, Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) 960 culture, and Xpert MTB/RIF. The sputum remnants of Xpert MTB/RIF were used for MTBDRplus to confirm the Xpert results both for the presence of TB bacilli and for resistance to rifampicin (RIF), and also to diagnose multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB).

RESULTS: In total, 200 (28.1%) of the 711 sputa were positive for TB by Xpert MTB/RIF, and the sputum remnants were used for MTBDRplus. The simultaneous use of Xpert MTB/RIF and MTBDRplus directly on sputum samples permitted accurate bacteriologic confirmation of TB in 64% (119/187) of cases and detection of 70% (7/10) of strains that were MDR.

CONCLUSIONS: The implementation of 2 rapid nucleic acid-based tests on sputum samples could facilitate the prompt and appropriate treatment of most TB cases.

Keywords: Molecular Diagnostic Techniques, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant, Asians, Incidence, Microscopy, Prospective Studies, Reagent Kits, Diagnostic, Sensitivity and Specificity, Specimen Handling, Sputum, Tuberculosis, Tuberculosis, Pulmonary