Evaluation of Diagnos TB AG, a flow-through immunoassay for rapid detection of pulmonary tuberculosis [Technical note]

• Published in: The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease Vol. 14; no. 2; pp. 238 - 240
• Main Authors: REITHER, K, SAATHOFF, E, JUNG, J, MINJA, L. T, MACHIBYA, H, MABOKO, L, PERKINS, M. D, HOELSCHER, M, BOEHME, C. C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Paris, France IUATLD 01-02-2010; International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
• Subjects: Adult; Antigens, Bacterial - immunology; Bacterial diseases; Bacterial diseases of the respiratory system; Biological and medical sciences; Diagnostic Performance; Female; Flow-Through Immunoassay; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Immunoassay - methods; Infectious diseases; Male; Medical sciences; Mycobacterium; Mycobacterium tuberculosis - immunology; Pneumology; Predictive Value of Tests; Pulmonary Tuberculosis; Respiratory system : syndromes and miscellaneous diseases; Sensitivity and Specificity; Tanzania; Time Factors; Tuberculosis and atypical mycobacterial infections; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - diagnosis; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary - immunology; Tanzania; Performance evaluation; Lung disease; Respiratory disease; Pulmonary tuberculosis; diagnostic performance; Mycobacterial infection; Infection; Rapid technique; flow-through immunoassay; Bacteriosis; Diagnosis; Performance; Pneumology
• ISSN: 1027-3719; 1815-7920

We evaluated the diagnostic performance of the Diagnos TB AG immunoassay in 171 Tanzanians with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). The sensitivity and specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of the rapid test for the detection of pulmonary TB in this population
were respectively 60.0%, 33.3%, 40.3% and 52.6%. In its current configuration, this test will not help overcome difficulties in the rapid diagnosis of TB.