Equitable Access to Diagnostic Resources Means One Xpert-Ultra Cartridge for all Inpatients with HIV Being Investigated for Tuberculosis
Sputum scarcity in AHD patients hampers TB detection, GeneXpert Ultra accurate, but not accessible to all.
Tuberculosis (TB) remains the leading cause of death among people with advanced HIV disease (AHD).[1] Early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for reducing mortality, yet standard diagnostic methods often fail, owing to the challenges faced by patients with AHD. The GeneXpert platform (Xpert, USA) and in particular the Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra (Xpert-Ultra) test is accurate in diagnosing TB in those who can produce sputum,[2] but ~50% of patients admitted to hospital with AHD and TB are unable to produce sputum due to severe illness, mental status changes, or extrapulmonary TB.[3] Sputum induction greatly increases the diagnostic yield,[4]but is not widely available.
Click here to access the article.