THE DIAGNOSTIC VALUE OF CONVENTIONAL TUBERCULOSIS DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURE COMPARED WITH GENE X-PERT MTB/RIF: A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY
Objectives: The objectives of the study were to evaluate the diagnostic value of conventional tuberculosis (TB) diagnostic procedure compared with Gene X-pert Mycobacterium tuberculosis/rifampicin (MTB/RIF). Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted from January to December 2018. The accuracy of conventional TB diagnostic procedure: TB screening, chest X-ray, and sputum Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining was compared to Gene X-pert MTB/RIF using 2 × 2 table. p < 0.05 were taken as statistically significant. The collected data were processed using Statistical Package for the Social Science software version 26.0. Results: A total of 117 participants suspected TB was found 44 (37.60%) confirmed TB. Among the suspected TB cases, 86 (73.50%) were male and 31 (26.50%) were female with the mean age of 43.86±16.47 years. The sensitivity and specificity of TB screening (prolonged cough) were 84.00% and 12.00%, respectively. Chest X-ray had the sensitivity and specificity (91.00%) and (10.00%). The sensitivity and specificity of sputum ZN were 57.00% and 99.00%. Conclusions: Conventional TB diagnostic procedure has a high accuracy compared with Gene X-pert MTB/RIF. Therefore, it is still recommended as a TB diagnostic procedure routinely in era of Gene X-pert MTB/RIF, especially in Primary Health Care with limited settings.