Ethiopian Scientists Develop 88.5% Accurate Stool Test for TB in Children, Significantly Outperforming Traditional Methods
Ethiopian Scientists Develop 88.5% Accurate Stool Test for TB in Children, Significantly Outperforming Traditional Methods
This new stool-based Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra assay has shown great promise as a non-invasive alternative to the traditional sputum tests, which typically have a low sensitivity of just 20–50%, especially in children, according to a recently published study in Nature.
The difficulty in obtaining sputum samples is a key challenge in diagnosing pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in young patients, but stool samples offer a safer, more accessible solution.
The new method boasts a sensitivity of 95.8% and a specificity of 99.7% compared to culture tests on respiratory samples.
This groundbreaking approach not only enhances diagnostic capabilities but also offers an effective option in resource-limited settings where collecting respiratory samples is often impractical.
By using stool as a diagnostic specimen, this method could significantly improve TB detection in children, particularly in areas with high TB burdens like Ethiopia, where timely and accurate diagnosis has historically been a challenge.
This research could pave the way for broader use of stool-based testing globally, helping to save countless young lives by diagnosing PTB early and accurately.
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