Mycobacterial Diseases
Open Access

Abstract

Serodiagnostic Performance of Resat-6-CFP-10 in the Diagnosis of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Ethiopia

Mulugeta Belay, Gunnar Bjune, Gobena Ameni, Markos Abebe and Fekadu Abebe

Background: Tuberculosis is a major public health problem globally. Lack of rapid and accurate diagnostic tests remain an obstacle for effective control. The aim of this study was to evaluate the potential of rESAT-6-CFP-10 in detecting active pulmonary tuberculosis in a high burden setting.

Methodology/Principal findings: Three hundred twenty three pulmonary tuberculosis suspects were included consecutively from February 2010 to May 2010. Basic socio-demographic data as well as sputum and serum samples were collected. Of the 323 suspects, 107 were confirmed to be pulmonary tuberculosis patients using smear microscopy and culture. IgG-based ELISA was run on 204 (89 culture positive and 115 culture and smear negative) serum samples using rESAT-6-CFP-10 antigen. The sensitivity and specificity were 91.0% (83.3 % - 95.4%) and 41.7% (33.1% - 50.9%), respectively. The sensitivities were 94.6% and 88.5% in smear positive and smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis patients, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity among HIV positive pulmonary tuberculosis suspects were 87.5% and 34.8%, respectively whereas the sensitivity and specificity among HIV negative pulmonary tuberculosis suspects were 93.0% and 42.7%, respectively.

Conclusion: The sensitivity of rESA-6-CFP-10 antigen is high but the corresponding specificity is low and therefore, it can’t replace smear microscope in the study area.