Evaluation of rapid GeneXpert MTB/RIF method using DNA tissue specimens of vertebral bones in patients with suspected spondylitis TB.

PURPOSE: To detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis DNA and rifampicin resistance in vertebral bone tissue specimens from spondylitis TB suspects. METHODS AND RESULTS: The rapid GeneXpert MTB/RIF and MGIT 960 liquid culture methods have been used in the specimens. Results from 70 suspects with spondylitis TB shown that 31.42% identified positive for spondylitis TB using culture method, while 88.57% shown positive results using rapid GeneXpert MTB/RIF method. The validity of GeneXpert MTB/RIF shown sensitivity value of 100%, specificity value of 16.6%, PPV of 35.48%, and NPV of 100%. CONCLUSION: GeneXpert has a high sensitivity but low specificity value in this study.