Gene-Xpert Ultra for the diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis in children and adolescents

Abstract

ABSTRACT This prospective study describes the use of Gene-Xpert Ultra for the diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB) in children and adolescents, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Eighteen patients were studied; the final diagnosis of EPTB was established in 13 (72%). Gene-Xpert Ultra results showed detection in 10/13 (77%) of EPTB cases (7 of these 10 with trace-positive results). Gene-Xpert Ultra proved to be a promising method for the diagnosis of childhood EPTB.

Keywords

• Extrapulmonary tuberculosis
• Children
• Adolescents
• Diagnoses
• Real-time PCR