USE OF CARTRIDGE BASED NUCLEIC ACID AMPLIFICATION TEST FOR RAPID DETECTION OF MYCOBACTERIUM TUBERCULOSIS IN PULMONARY AND EXTRAPULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS

Objective: Tuberculosis is an airborne infection caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Timely diagnosis and treatment are important to prevent the spread of infection. Cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test (CBNAAT) provides a valuable tool in the early detection of TB. This study is undertaken to evaluate the utility of CBNAAT for the detection of MTB. Comparison of cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification testing with ZN staining. Methods: This prospective observational study was carried out in the Department of Microbiology, BLDEDU’s Shri B. M. Patil Medical College, Hospital and RC and Dr. Karigoudar Diagnostic Laboratory, Vijayapur. A total of 129 samples from patients with the presumptive diagnosis of TB based on history, clinical presentation, and radiological findings were included in the study. All samples were subjected to ZN staining, and Cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test and data were analyzed. Results: The present study showed ZN smear positivity of 7.75% and CBNAAT positivity of 19.38%. CBNAAT sensitivity and specificity were 90% and 86.55, respectively, compared with ZN staining with a significant P value of <0.001. Conclusion: CBNAAT helps diagnose TB and detect rifampicin resistance within 2-3 h with high sensitivity and specificity. Rifampicin resistance detection is of great concern, which otherwise leads to treatment failure and on time spread of multidrug resistance TB, leading to increased morbidity and mortality.