Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
J Clin Microbiol. 2005 January 1; Volume 43 (Issue 1); DOI:10.1128/JCM.43.1.442-444.2005
Pardini M, Varaine FFV, Iona E, Arzumanian E, Checchi F, et al.
J Clin Microbiol. 2005 January 1; Volume 43 (Issue 1); DOI:10.1128/JCM.43.1.442-444.2005
Recovery of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from sputa treated with cetyl-pyridinium chloride (CPC) and stored for 20 +/- 9 days was significantly higher than that from sputa that were untreated and processed by the N-acetyl-L-cisteine-NaOH method. Addition of CPC is useful for isolation of M. tuberculosis from sputa subjected to long-term storage received from remote areas of the world.
Journal Article > ResearchAbstract
J Clin Microbiol. 2019 October 16
Ardizzoni E, Orikiriza P, Ssuuna C, Nyehangane D, Gumsboga M, et al.
J Clin Microbiol. 2019 October 16
Background: Xpert MTB/RIF (Xpert) and culture are the most reliable methods for tuberculosis diagnosis but are still poorly accessible in many low resource countries. We aimed to assess the effect of OMNIgene® SPUTUM (OM-S) and ethanol in preserving sputum for Xpert and OM-S for mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) testing over a period of 15 and 8 days respectively.
Methods: Sputum were collected from newly diagnosed smear-positive patients. For Xpert, pooled samples were split into 5 aliquots: 3 for Xpert on day 0, 7 and 15 days without additive and 2 with either OM-S or ethanol at day 15. For MGIT, 2 aliquots were tested without preservative and 2 with OM-S at 0 and 8 days.
Results: A total of 48 and 47 samples were included in the analysis for Xpert and culture. With Xpert, using Day 0 as reference, untreated samples stored for 7 and 15 days showed concordance of 45/46 (97.8%) and 46/48 (95.8%). For samples preserved with OM-S or ethanol for 15 days compared with untreated samples processed at day 0 or after 15 days, OM-S concordance was 46/48(95.8%) and 47/48(97.9%), while ethanol was 44/48 (91.7%) and 45/48 (93.8%). With MGIT, concordance between untreated and OM-S treated samples was 21/41(51.2%) at Day 0 and 21/44(47.7%) at day8.
Conclusions: Xpert equally detected TB in OM-S treated and untreated samples up to 15 days but showed slightly lower detection in ethanol treated samples. Among OM-S treated samples, MGIT positivity was significantly lower compared to untreated samples at both time-points.
Methods: Sputum were collected from newly diagnosed smear-positive patients. For Xpert, pooled samples were split into 5 aliquots: 3 for Xpert on day 0, 7 and 15 days without additive and 2 with either OM-S or ethanol at day 15. For MGIT, 2 aliquots were tested without preservative and 2 with OM-S at 0 and 8 days.
Results: A total of 48 and 47 samples were included in the analysis for Xpert and culture. With Xpert, using Day 0 as reference, untreated samples stored for 7 and 15 days showed concordance of 45/46 (97.8%) and 46/48 (95.8%). For samples preserved with OM-S or ethanol for 15 days compared with untreated samples processed at day 0 or after 15 days, OM-S concordance was 46/48(95.8%) and 47/48(97.9%), while ethanol was 44/48 (91.7%) and 45/48 (93.8%). With MGIT, concordance between untreated and OM-S treated samples was 21/41(51.2%) at Day 0 and 21/44(47.7%) at day8.
Conclusions: Xpert equally detected TB in OM-S treated and untreated samples up to 15 days but showed slightly lower detection in ethanol treated samples. Among OM-S treated samples, MGIT positivity was significantly lower compared to untreated samples at both time-points.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
J Clin Microbiol. 2016 March 30; Volume 54 (Issue 6); 1520-1527.; DOI:10.1128/JCM.00017-16
Boum Y II, Kim S, Orikiriza P, Acuña-Villaorduña C, Vinhas S, et al.
J Clin Microbiol. 2016 March 30; Volume 54 (Issue 6); 1520-1527.; DOI:10.1128/JCM.00017-16
Sputum acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear microscopy has suboptimal sensitivity but remains the most commonly used laboratory test to diagnose pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). We prospectively evaluated the small membrane filtration (SMF) method that concentrates AFB in a smaller area to facilitate detection to improve the diagnostic performance of microscopy. We enrolled adults with suspicion of pulmonary TB from health facilities in southwestern Uganda. Clinical history, physical examination, and 3 sputum samples were obtained for direct fluorescent AFB smear, SMF, Xpert MTB/RIF, and MGIT culture media. Sensitivity and specificity were estimated for SMF, AFB smear, and Xpert MTB/RIF, using MGIT as the reference standard. The analysis was stratified according to HIV status. From September 2012 to April 2014, 737 participants were included in the HIV-infected stratum (146 [20.5%] were culture positive) and 313 were in the HIV-uninfected stratum (85 [28%] were culture positive). In HIV-infected patients, the sensitivity of a single SMF was 67.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 59.9% to 74.1%); for AFB, 68.0% (95% CI, 60.6% to 74.6%); and for Xpert MTB/RIF, 91.0% (95% CI, 85.0% to 94.8%). In HIV-uninfected patients, the corresponding sensitivities were 72.5% (95% CI, 62.1% to 80.9%), 80.3% (95% CI, 70.8% to 87.2%), and 93.5% (95% CI, 85.7% to 97.2%). The specificity for all 3 tests in both HIV groups was ≥96%. In this setting, the SMF method did not improve the diagnostic accuracy of sputum AFB. The Xpert MTB/RIF assay performed well in both HIV-infected and -uninfected groups.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
J Clin Microbiol. 2009 June 1; Volume 47 (Issue 6); 1931-3.; DOI:10.1128/JCM.02245-08.
Merens A, Guerin PJ, Guthmann JP, Nicand E
J Clin Microbiol. 2009 June 1; Volume 47 (Issue 6); 1931-3.; DOI:10.1128/JCM.02245-08.
Biological samples collected in refugee camps during an outbreak of hepatitis E were used to compare the accuracy of hepatitis E virus RNA amplification by real-time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR) for sera and dried blood spots (concordance of 90.6%). Biological profiles (RT-PCR and serology) of asymptomatic individuals were also analyzed.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
J Clin Microbiol. 2012 May 30; Volume 50 (Issue 8); DOI:10.1128/JCM.01232-12
Schramm B, Hewison CCH, Bonte L, Jones W, Camelique O, et al.
J Clin Microbiol. 2012 May 30; Volume 50 (Issue 8); DOI:10.1128/JCM.01232-12
Simple tuberculosis (TB) treatment monitoring tools are needed. We assessed the performance of fluorescein-diacetate (FDA) smear microscopy for detection of viable Mycobacterium tuberculosis in sputum specimens (n = 288) of TB cases under treatment compared to culture (17.4% culture positivity). FDA sensitivity was moderate (83.7% [95% confidence interval {CI}, 70.3 to 92.6]), and specificity was low (66.1% [59.5 to 72.2]). The good negative predictive value (94.8% [90.1 to 97.8]) and negative likelihood ratio (0.2) suggest using this method to rule out treatment failure in settings without access to culture.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
J Clin Microbiol. 2008 December 1; Volume 46 (Issue 12); DOI:10.1128/JCM.01171-08
Martin AIC, Von Groll A, Fissette K, Palomino JC, Varaine FFV, et al.
J Clin Microbiol. 2008 December 1; Volume 46 (Issue 12); DOI:10.1128/JCM.01171-08
The objective of this study was to evaluate the manual mycobacterium growth indicator tube (MGIT) system for the testing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis susceptibility to second-line drugs compared to the proportion method. One hundred eighty-eight M. tuberculosis isolates were tested for susceptibility to ofloxacin, kanamycin, ethionamide, and capreomycin by the manual MGIT, and results were compared to those obtained with the proportion method on 7H11 agar, considered a reference method. Results for ofloxacin and capreomycin were excellent, with 100% accuracy, and a result of 99.4% accuracy was achieved for kanamycin. For ethionamide, accuracy was lower, with a result of 86.7% compared to that of the proportion method. We proposed the following critical concentrations for the drugs: for ofloxacin, 2.0 microg/ml; for kanamycin, 2.5 microg/ml; for ethionamide, 5 microg/ml; and for capreomycin, 2.5 microg/ml. The time required to obtain results was an average of 8 days by the manual MGIT and 3 weeks by the reference method. Our results show that the manual MGIT is an accurate method for the rapid susceptibility testing of M. tuberculosis to second-line drugs. There is no need for a machine when using the manual MGIT, and results can be read with a simple UV lamp or with a semiquantitative reader, which considerably reduces the cost of the method.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
J Clin Microbiol. 2017 May 1; Volume 55 (Issue 5); 1540-1549.; DOI:10.1128/JCM.00130-17
Murungi M, Fulton T, Reyes R, Matte M, Ntaro M, et al.
J Clin Microbiol. 2017 May 1; Volume 55 (Issue 5); 1540-1549.; DOI:10.1128/JCM.00130-17
Poor specificity may negatively impact rapid diagnostic test (RDT)-based diagnostic strategies for malaria. We performed real-time PCR on a subset of subjects who had undergone diagnostic testing with a multiple-antigen (histidine-rich protein 2 and pan-lactate dehydrogenase pLDH [HRP2/pLDH]) RDT and microscopy. We determined the sensitivity and specificity of the RDT in comparison to results of PCR for the detection of Plasmodium falciparum malaria. We developed and evaluated a two-step algorithm utilizing the multiple-antigen RDT to screen patients, followed by confirmatory microscopy for those individuals with HRP2-positive (HRP2+)/pLDH-negative (pLDH-) results. In total, dried blood spots (DBS) were collected from 276 individuals. There were 124 (44.9%) individuals with an HRP2+/pLDH+ result, 94 (34.1%) with an HRP2+/pLDH- result, and 58 (21%) with a negative RDT result. The sensitivity and specificity of the RDT compared to results with real-time PCR were 99.4% (95% confidence interval [CI], 95.9 to 100.0%) and 46.7% (95% CI, 37.7 to 55.9%), respectively. Of the 94 HRP2+/pLDH- results, only 32 (34.0%) and 35 (37.2%) were positive by microscopy and PCR, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of the two-step algorithm compared to results with real-time PCR were 95.5% (95% CI, 90.5 to 98.0%) and 91.0% (95% CI, 84.1 to 95.2), respectively. HRP2 antigen bands demonstrated poor specificity for the diagnosis of malaria compared to that of real-time PCR in a high-transmission setting. The most likely explanation for this finding is the persistence of HRP2 antigenemia following treatment of an acute infection. The two-step diagnostic algorithm utilizing microscopy as a confirmatory test for indeterminate HRP2+/pLDH- results showed significantly improved specificity with little loss of sensitivity in a high-transmission setting.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
J Clin Microbiol. 2014 July 25; Volume 52 (Issue 7); DOI:10.1128/JCM.00749-14
Kassaza K, Orikiriza P, Llosa AE, Bazira J, Nyehangane D, et al.
J Clin Microbiol. 2014 July 25; Volume 52 (Issue 7); DOI:10.1128/JCM.00749-14
We compared Mycobacterium tuberculosis sputum culture recovery and contamination rates between Lowenstein-Jensen medium (LJ) containing the following decontaminants and LJ alone: (i) PANTA (n = 299), (ii) Selectatab-MB (n = 299), and (iii) penicillin G (n = 234). The contamination rate for LJ alone was approximately 31%, versus 5.0% for PANTA-containing, 2% for Selectatab-containing, and 9% for penicillin-containing media (P < 0.001). M. tuberculosis isolation rates were 9.8%, 17%, 18%, and 12% for standard LJ, PANTA, Selectatab, and penicillin cultures, respectively.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
J Clin Microbiol. 2014 July 16; Volume 52 (Issue 9); DOI:10.1128/JCM.00593-14
Ritchie AV, Ushiro-Lumb I, Edemaga D, Joshi HA, De Ruiter A, et al.
J Clin Microbiol. 2014 July 16; Volume 52 (Issue 9); DOI:10.1128/JCM.00593-14
Routine viral load (VL) testing of HIV-infected individuals on antiretroviral therapy (ART) is used to monitor treatment efficacy. However, due to logistical challenges, implementation of VL has been difficult in resource-limited settings. The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of the SAMBA Semi-Q Test in London, Malawi, and Uganda. The SAMBA HIV-1 Semi-Q Test can distinguish between patients with VL above or below 1000 copies/ml. The SAMBA Semi-Q was validated with diluted clinical samples and blinded plasma samples collected from HIV-1-positive individuals. SAMBA Semi-Q results were compared with results from the Roche COBAS AmpliPrep/COBAS TaqMan HIV-1 Test v2.0. Testing of 96 2-10 fold dilutions of four samples containing HIV-1 subtype C as well as 488 samples from patients in the United Kingdom, Malawi, and Uganda, respectively, yielded an overall accuracy for SAMBA Semi-Q of 99% (95% CI 93.8 - 99.9%) and 96.9% (95% CI 94.9 - 98.3%) respectively compared to Roche. Analysis of VL data from patients in Malawi and Uganda showed that the SAMBA cut-off of 1000 copies/ml appropriately distinguished treated from untreated individuals. Furthermore, analysis of the viral load of 232 patients on ART in Malawi and Uganda revealed similar patterns for virological control defined as either <1000 copies/ml (SAMBA cut-off) or <5000 copies/ml (WHO 2010 criterion). This study suggests that SAMBA Semi-Q has adequate concurrency with the gold standard measurements for viral load measurement. This test can allow VL monitoring of patients on ART at the point of care in resource-limited settings.
Journal Article > ResearchFull Text
J Clin Microbiol. 2017 July 26; Volume 55 (Issue 10); DOI:10.1128/JCM.00962-17
Kosack CS, Shanks L, Beelaert G, Benson TT, Savane A, et al.
J Clin Microbiol. 2017 July 26; Volume 55 (Issue 10); DOI:10.1128/JCM.00962-17
Our objective was to evaluate the performance of HIV testing algorithms based on WHO recommendations, using data from specimens collected at six HIV testing and counselling sites in sub-Saharan Africa (Guinea, Conakry; Kitgum and Arua, Uganda; Homa Bay, Kenya; Douala, Cameroun; Baraka, Democratic Republic of Congo). A total of 2780 samples, including 1306 HIV-positive, were included in the analysis. HIV testing algorithms were designed using Determine as a first test. Second and third rapid diagnostic tests (RDT) were selected based on site-specific performance, adhering where possible to the WHO-recommended minimum requirements of sensitivity and specificity of ≥99%. The threshold for specificity was reduced to 98% or 96% if necessary. We also simulated algorithms consisting of one RDT followed by a simple confirmatory assay. The positive predictive values (PPV) of the simulated algorithms varied from 75.8%-100% using strategies recommended for high-prevalence settings; 98.7%-100% using strategies recommended for low-prevalence settings; and 98.1%-100% using a rapid test followed by a simple confirmatory assay. Although we were able to design algorithms that met the recommended PPV of ≥99% in five of six sites using the applicable high prevalence strategy, options were often very limited due to sub-optimal performance of individual RDTs and to shared false-reactive results. These results underscore the impact of the sequence of HIV tests and of shared false-reactivity on algorithm performance. Where it is not possible to identify tests that meet WHO-recommended specifications, the low-prevalence strategy may be more suitable.