Rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Rifampicin Resistance in extra pulmonary samples using Gene Xpert MTB/RIF assay

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major health problem in Pakistan. The World Health Organization has recently endorsed the Gene Xpert MTB/RIF assay for rapid detection of smear negative and multidrug resistance tuberculosis. A total of 100 extra pulmonary samples were processed, which included 60 pus, 19 pleural fluids, 16 ascetic fluids and 5 CSF. Out of these 37% patients were Gene Xpert MTB/RIF Assay positive, 17% were LJ culture positive and 12 % were Zn smear positive. MTB was detected in 31 out of 60 (51.7%) Pus samples, 3 out of 19 (15.8%) Pleural fluid samples, 1 out of 16 (6.3%) Ascitic fluid samples and 2 out of 5 (40.0%) CSF samples. In this study we found that Gene Xpert MTB/RIF assay is rapid method for diagnosis of extra pulmonary tuberculosis as compared to conventional methods. Because of its simplicity, rapidity and sensitivity, this seems to be a very gorgeous tool for diagnosis of extra pulmonary tuberculosis from clinical samples.