TB-CAPT XDR trial shows that WHO-approved Xpert MTB/XDR test effectively detects M. tuberculosis and resistance to key drugs

The TB-CAPT XDR trial, led by Helen Cox (UCT) and Chad Centner (formerly UCT), has demonstrated the efficacy of the WHO-approved Xpert MTB/XDR test in detecting Mycobacterium tuberculosis and resistance to crucial drugs directly from sputum specimens.

The study found that the Xpert MTB/XDR test provided comprehensive resistance results in 84% of cases compared to 66% with routine testing while significantly reducing the median turnaround time from 15 days to just 23 hours. With high sensitivity and specificity for drug resistance detection, this innovative approach not only increases the availability of diagnostic results but also accelerates the diagnostic process, making it a pivotal advancement in the fight against tuberculosis.

Find out more in the corresponding paper published in OFID on 31 July 2024: Reflex Xpert MTB/XDR testing of residual rifampicin-resistant specimens: a clinical laboratory-based diagnostic accuracy and feasibility study in South Africa