COMPARISON OF INDIGENOUS SPUTUM TRUNAT WITH THE WIDELY IMPLEMENTED GENEXPERT IN DIAGNOSIS OF PULMONARY TB PATIENTS

Abstract

Introduction: Eight countries reported the two thirds of the global burden, with India having 26% of the total cases in the world. Case detection remains the crucial factor in control of infection of Tuberculosis. Under RNTCP, three tests are incorporated for the diagnosis of TB (sputum smear microscopy, chest X -ray, and the CB-NAAT test). Both CB-NAAT and TruNAT, not only diagnose tuberculosis accurately, but also identify rifampicin resistance. Objectives: To compare sensitivity and specicity of indigenous TruNAT to the widely used CBNAAT test in detection of mycobacterium tuberculosis and presence of rifampicin resistance in suspected PTB patients. Methodology:This is a Diagnostic Validation Study done among 54 patients with ndings of pulmonary TB, attending OPD of Department of Respiratory Medicine and ENT. Data was obtained on presence of MTB and rifampicin resistance. Results: TruNAT positivity testing had a sensitivity, specicity, PPV value, NPV, and diagnostic accuracy of 98.11%, 100%, 100%, 50%, and 98.15% respectively. TruNAT for identication of rifampicin resistance had a sensitivity, specicity, PPV, NPV, and diagnostic accuracy of 98.11%, 100%, 100%, 50%, and 98.15% respectively. Conclusion: This study conrms that TruNAT has a good diagnostic accuracy rate with good sensitivity, specicity, positive predictive value, and diagnostic accuracy. With other additional advantages of speedy results and idea on rifampicin resistance (compared to sputum microscopy), lower cost, Portable, battery operated and not requiring temperature ceiling (Compared to CBNAAT) makes TruNAT, a comprehensive choice of diagnostic test and identication of Rifampicin resistance in TB cases.