Cited by 527Tuberculosis Research and EpidemiologyInfectious Diseases and TuberculosisDiagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 46 of the 48 references it cites were found in a registry or an index; 17 of the 40 sources its claims cite were checked for support.

Xpert MTB/RIF assay for the diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Open access

Abstract

Xpert MTB/RIF (Cepheid, Sunnyvale, CA, USA) is endorsed for the detection of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). We performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the accuracy of Xpert for the detection of extrapulmonary TB. We searched multiple databases to October 15, 2013. We determined the accuracy of Xpert compared with culture and a composite reference standard (CRS). We grouped data by sample type and performed meta-analyses using a bivariate random-effects model. We assessed sources of heterogeneity using meta-regression for predefined covariates. We identified 18 studies involving 4461 samples. Sample processing varied greatly among the studies. Xpert sensitivity differed substantially between sample types. In lymph node tissues or aspirates, Xpert pooled sensitivity was 83.1% (95% CI 71.4-90.7%) versus culture and 81.2% (95% CI 72.4-87.7%) versus CRS. In cerebrospinal fluid, Xpert pooled sensitivity was 80.5% (95% CI 59.0-92.2%) against culture and 62.8% (95% CI 47.7-75.8%) against CRS. In pleural fluid, pooled sensitivity was 46.4% (95% CI 26.3-67.8%) against culture and 21.4% (95% CI 8.8-33.9%) against CRS. Xpert pooled specificity was consistently >98.7% against CRS across different sample types. Based on this systematic review, the World Health Organization now recommends Xpert over conventional tests for diagnosis of TB in lymph nodes and other tissues, and as the preferred initial test for diagnosis of TB meningitis.

Overview

Integrity signals

Registry

Crossref · 10.1183/09031936.00007814

Cites

46 of 46 references verified0 citation errors · 0 not checkable

Statistics

Nothing to recompute.

Verification

Claims the paper makes

47 Own result · 15 Own method · 13 Own interpretation · 8 No basis given · 6 Sources not found · 5 Partly supported · 5 Not checked yet · 4 No full text of the sources · 2 Not supported · 1 Supported · 1 Supported so far · 1 Mixed support · 1 Couldn’t confirm · accuracy not yet measured

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Show all 52 claims

  • It may state two separate claims as one. 35
  • Probably not a substantial claim. 35
  • The quote only partly states this claim. 4
57 of 57
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    Xpert correctly identifies TB in a sample with a negative culture.

    “Assuming that Xpert correctly identifies TB in a sample with a negative culture, the result would appear to be a false positive, leading to an underestimation of Xpert's true specificity.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The pooled sensitivity and specificity were different in each subgroup, but not the between-study variance-covariance matrix.

    “under the assumption that the pooled sensitivity and specificity were different in each subgroup, but not the between-study variance-covariance matrix.”
  • The authors state this as an assumption.

    The effect of the covariate would not differ between the different reference standards.

    “We also presumed that the effect of the covariate would not differ between the different reference standards.”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    For pleural TB, culture of pleural fluid has low sensitivity (on average, 30-50%).

    “For pleural TB, culture of pleural fluid has low sensitivity (on average, 30-50%).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Culture specificity is 100% if the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex is confirmed with antigen tests or nucleic acid amplification tests.

    “Culture specificity is 100% if the presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex is confirmed with antigen tests or nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs).”
  • The paper relies on this without support.

    Often, biopsy with culture and histopathological examination is necessary to achieve a diagnosis.

    “Often, biopsy with culture and histopathological examination is necessary to achieve a diagnosis.”
6 of 6

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Cites

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Metadata

Authors
Denkinger, C. M., Schumacher, S. G., Boehme, C. C., Dendukuri, N., Pai, M., & Steingart, K. R.
Affiliations
  • Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (US)
  • McGill University (CA)
  • FIND (CH)
  • Montreal Chest Institute (CA)
Venue
European Respiratory Journal
Published
2014-04-02
Volume
44
Issue
2
Pages
435-446
ISSN
  • 0903-1936 (ISSN-L)
  • 1399-3003
OpenAlex
W2047801331
Cited by
527
References
48
Citations by year
2026: 33 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 34 · 2023: 29 · 2022: 46 · 2021: 51 · 2020: 51 · 2019: 58 · 2018: 51 · 2017: 58 · 2016: 44 · 2015: 30 · 2014: 12
FWCI
6.68
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • European Respiratory Journal (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • United States Agency for International Development
  • American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
  • McGill University
  • Fonds de Recherche du Québec - Santé
  • European and Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Infectious Diseases and Tuberculosis
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Infectious Diseases › Diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis
Keywords
Xpert MTB/RIF, extrapulmonary tuberculosis, tuberculosis diagnosis, diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity and specificity, lymph node tissue, cerebrospinal fluid, pleural fluid, tuberculous meningitis, nucleic acid amplification tests, cultural comparison
MeSH terms
Antibiotics, Antitubercular, Humans, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, Reference Standards, Regression Analysis, Rifampin, Sensitivity and Specificity, Tuberculosis, World Health Organization, Reproducibility of Results, HIV Infections, Prevalence, Databases, Factual, Drug Resistance, Bacterial, Molecular Diagnostic Techniques

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