Evidence for Tuberculosis in Individuals With Xpert Ultra "Trace" Sputum During Screening of High-Burden Communities.

Background: "Trace" results on Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra ("Ultra"; Cepheid) -a molecular diagnostic test for tuberculosis (TB)-are often interpreted as an indication for TB treatment, but may also represent detection of nonviable bacilli or analytical error. In community-screening settings where individual TB risk is low, there is limited guidance on how to interpret Ultra-trace results.

Methods: We conducted systematic Ultra TB screening of adults and adolescents (≥15 years) in Kampala, Uganda, through door-to-door and event-based sputum collection.