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Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews

Editor-in-Chief

ISSN (Print): 1573-398X
ISSN (Online): 1875-6387

Using Xpert MTB/RIF

Author(s): Mark P. Nicol, Andrew Whitelaw and Wendy Stevens

Volume 9, Issue 3, 2013

Page: [187 - 192] Pages: 6

DOI: 10.2174/1573398X113099990015

Abstract

Xpert MTB/RIF is an automated real-time polymerase chain reaction test for simultaneous detection of tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance. Xpert MTB/RIF has demonstrated excellent accuracy in clinical evaluation studies, but has reduced sensitivity for detection of smear-negative tuberculosis. Since sample processing and detection are largely automated, Xpert MTB/RIF is potentially suitable for implementation in resource-limited settings. There are, however, a number of practical constraints to the use of Xpert at the point-of-care. Xpert remains a relatively costly test, and clear demonstration of cost-effectiveness will be needed to support efforts to scale up testing in high burden countries.

Keywords: Cost-effectiveness, detection, diagnosis, rifampicin, tuberculosis, Xpert MTB/RIF.


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