Cost-effectiveness of different strategies for amplified Mycobacterium tuberculosis direct testing for cases of pulmonary tuberculosis.

We conducted a decision analysis to assess and compare four algorithms for amplified Mycobacterium tuberculosis direct (MTD) testing of respiratory specimens in terms of cost-effectiveness. The most cost-effective strategy was one in which smear-positive specimens but not smear-negative specimens were diluted prior to MTD testing.

Specimen dilution improves sensitivity of the amplified Mycobacterium tuberculosis direct test for smear microscopy-positive respiratory specimens.

Specimen dilution has been proposed as a strategy to minimize amplified Mycobacterium tuberculosis direct (MTD) test inhibition (N. Pollock, J. Westerling, and A.

Use of the amplified mycobacterium tuberculosis direct test in a public health laboratory: test performance and impact on clinical care.

Background: The Amplified Mycobacterium tuberculosis Direct Test (MTD; Gen-Probe; San Diego, CA) is a nucleic-acid amplification test for rapid pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) diagnosis. In a routine public health setting, test accuracy and impact on clinical decisions are unknown.

Methods: Retrospectively, we evaluated MTD accuracy and impact on clinical decisions in a public health setting.