[Comment] Performance of Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra: a matter of dead or alive

In our opinion, the implementation of the Xpert MTB/RIF assay (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) since 2010 has revolutionised molecular diagnosis of (multidrug-resistant) tuberculosis. Xpert combines early diagnosis of tuberculosis with direct detection of rifampicin resistance, but the limitations of the assay are its suboptimal sensitivity and high rate of false positivity in low-prevalence settings. To overcome these limitations, the assay was re-engineered to increase diagnostic sensitivity and improve specificity in the detection of rifampicin resistance.
Source: The Lancet Infectious Diseases - Category: Infectious Diseases Authors: Tags: Comment Source Type: research