Performance of a Multiplex PCR -Microarray-based Assay in the Detection of Mycobacterium Tuberculosis and Non-tuberculous Mycobacterium Species in Smear-positive Pulmonary Clinical Specimens

Delay in diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis was common in hospitalised patients all around the world, and was associated with poorer outcomes, including respiratory failure and mortality. Rapid and accurate tools for diagnosis of TB is of great importance in initial treatment and for better treatment outcomes. Other than TB, non-tuberculous mycobacterium (NTM) pulmonary infections are emerging in many regions of the world. These bacterium are more common to be found in respiratory specimens than MTB. With similar clinical presentation of NTM pulmonary infections and pulmonary TB, misdiagnosis of NTM pulmonary infections to pulmonary TB would lead to unnecessary intake of anti-TB medications and delay of the initiation of corresponding treatment.

This test aims to detect MTB as well differentiate the NTM species involved in pulmonary infections simultaneously using VereMTB.