GeneXpert MTB/RIF Testing in the Management of Patients with Active Tuberculosis; A Real Life Experience from Saudi Arabia.

Background: GeneXpert MTB/RIF is a real-time PCR assay with established diagnostic performance in pulmonary and extra-pulmonary forms of tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to assess the contribution of GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay to the management of patients with any form of active tuberculosis in a single large tertiary center in Saudi Arabia, with a special focus on the impact on time to start of antituberculous therapy compared with Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) smears and mycobacterial cultures.

Materials And Methods: Clinical, radiological and laboratory records for all patients who were commenced on antituberculous therapy between March 2011 and February 2013 were retrospectively reviewed.