Mohammed Soheb Sadath Ansari
BACKGROUND In India, tuberculosis remains a major public health problem with high mortality and contributing significantly to world tuberculosis burden. Early diagnosis still remains a challenge and GeneXpert, a molecular test helps in detecting tuberculosis as early as within two hours. In the present study, role of GeneXpert for detecting MTB (mycobacterium tuberculosis) in bronchial lavage of tuberculosis suspects has been reported. Total 36 cases were reported and GeneXpert is found to be positive for MTB in 22 cases and compared with direct smear and cultures of BAL (bronchoalveolar lavage) fluid for MTB. MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 36 suspected TB (tuberculosis) cases were studied between 2015 to 2016 at Bhaskar Medical College. GeneXpert test was conducted for detecting MTB using real-time PCR technique along with direct smear and culture test for both male and female patients. RESULTS GeneXpert in BAL was positive for MTB in 22 cases, whereas direct smear was positive in 11 cases and cultures were positive in 32 cases. CONCLUSION The present study suggests that GeneXpert test is very effective and rapid test for detection of MTB in clinically and radiologically suspected cases of tuberculosis. GeneXpert is a good diagnostic test for tuberculosis suspects. The detection rate in BAL is superior to direct smear and then it detects MTB very early compared to cultures, which remains the gold standard diagnostic modality
