Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://scholarbank.nus.edu.sg/handle/10635/130333
Title: The pattern of utilisation and accuracy of a commercial nucleic acid amplification test for the rapid diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in routine clinical practice
Authors: Yee, Y.C.
Gough, A.
Kumarasinghe, G. 
Lim, T.K. 
Keywords: Nucleic acid amplification
Sensitivity
Tuberculosis
Issue Date: Aug-2002
Citation: Yee, Y.C., Gough, A., Kumarasinghe, G., Lim, T.K. (2002-08). The pattern of utilisation and accuracy of a commercial nucleic acid amplification test for the rapid diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in routine clinical practice. Singapore Medical Journal 43 (8) : 415-420. ScholarBank@NUS Repository.
Abstract: Background: Several nucleic acid amplification (NAA) tests are available for the rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in clinical specimens. Aims: To identify the pattern of utilisation and accuracy of the AMPLICOR test in routine clinical practice in an acute care setting. Design: A retrospective descriptive study. Method: We studied 159 consecutive specimens in which the AMPLICOR (Roche; Branchburg, NJ) test was requested by attending doctors. The sensitivities and specificities of the AMPLICOR for detection of active tuberculosis (TB) were calculated in relation to types of specimens, smear and culture results. Results: The number of requests more than doubled from 1999 to 2000. Thirty-eight percent of the specimens were not from the respiratory tract. The majority of the specimens had requests for one or more additional test (mean 1.8). The rate of active TB was 18%. The sensitivities of the AMPLICOR on per specimen, per patient, per smear negative specimen and per smear negative patient basis were found to be 81%, 80%, 66.7% and 71.4% respectively. The specificities for these groups accordingly were 99%, 98.6%, 99% and 98.6% respectively. The sensitivity and specificity for respiratory specimens were 97.5% and 98.5%, while for non-respiratory specimens, they were 60% and 100%. In smear negative specimens, the sensitivity and specificity for respiratory specimens were 60% and 98.5%, while for non-respiratory specimens, they were 75% and 100%. The AMPLICOR assay was negative in all 21 specimens of pleural or spinal fluid. Conclusions: There is a growing demand for NAA in the rapid diagnosis of TB with a high proportion of non-respiratory specimens. The number of additional diagnostic tests performed on each specimen should be limited. In routine clinical practice, the AMPLICOR assay is a useful confirmatory test for active pulmonary TB. The utility of the AMPLICOR assay for MTB detection in exudative fluid specimens needs further evaluation.
Source Title: Singapore Medical Journal
URI: http://scholarbank.nus.edu.sg/handle/10635/130333
ISSN: 00375675
Appears in Collections:Staff Publications

Show full item record
Files in This Item:
There are no files associated with this item.

Google ScholarTM

Check


Items in DSpace are protected by copyright, with all rights reserved, unless otherwise indicated.