geneXpert, is the India late?

Abstract

The Xpert MTB/RIF – a rapid, fullyautomated nucleic acid amplification test – is the first major breakthrough in tuberculosis (TB) diagnostics since sputum smear microscopy was developed more than 100 years ago. Further more in case of HIV positive patient’s sputum microcopy has less sensitivity and culture takes three to six month while this test detects TB and Rifampicin resistance directly from untreated sputum in less than two hours. India is a country with a high burden of tuberculosis, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis and tuberculosis–HIV coinfection.  By early diagnosis of resistance and at the pt care site only this intervention would reduce the transmission of primary drug resistance TB and would decrease mortality and morbidity.