Evaluation of the BDProbeTec TM ET DTB assay 1 for direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosiscomplex from clinical samples

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of BDProbeTec TM ET DTB system to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosiscomplex directly from clinical specimens. A total of 628 specimens (553 respiratory and 75 non respiratory specimens) were collected from 478 patients. These samples were tested with the BDProbeTec TM ET DTB assay and results were compared with acid fast microscopy and culture. Sixty eight out of 77 culture positive M. tuberculosis complex samples were detected with overall sensitivity and specificity of 89.5% and 98.2% respectively. Overall sensitivity was 100% in smear positive samples and 79% in smear negative samples. After resolution of discrepant results, sensitivity and specificity for respiratory samples were 91.6% and 98.7% respectively. BDProbeTec TM ET DTB assay demonstrated to be a rapid, sensitive and specific method for detection of M. tuberculosis complex. © 2002 Elsevier Science Inc. All rights reserved.