Clinical application of metagenomic next-generation sequencing in tuberculosis diagnosis.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical diagnostic value of metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) for tuberculosis (TB).

Methods: This retrospective study included 52 patients with suspected TB infection. mNGS, targeted PCR, acid-fast staining and, T-SPOT.TB assay were performed on the specimen. The positive rate of mNGS and traditional detection methods was statistically analyzed. Pathological tests were performed when necessary.

Results: In total, 52 patients with suspected of TB in this study were included in the analysis, and 31 patients were finally diagnosed with TB. Among 52 patients, 14 (26.9%) cases were positive for acid-fast staining. The positive rate of T-SPOT.TB assay in 52 patients was 73.1% (38/52). Among 52 patients, 39 (75%) were detected positive for (TB) by mNGS. Regarding the detection rate of MTB, mNGS were as high as 75% (39/52), whereas acid-resistant staining was only 26.9% (14/52), which showed a statistically significant difference (p<0.05). The positive rates of T-SPOT.TB assay and mNGS were not statistically significant (p>0.05). Of the 52 suspected TB patients, 24 had targeted PCR, of which 18 were PCR positive. In 24 patients, the positive rate of PCR was 75%, and the positive rate of mNGS was 100%, with statistical difference between them (p<0.05).

Conclusions: The detection rate of MTB by mNGS was higher than that by conventional acid-fast staining and PCR, but not statistically significant compared with T-SPOT.TB assay. As an adjunctive diagnostic technology, mNGS can be combined with traditional detection methods to play a guiding role in the diagnosis and treatment of TB.