New manual qPCR assay validated on tongue swabs collected and processed in Uganda shows sensitivity that rivals sputum-based molecular TB diagnostics.
Amy SteadmanAlfred AndamaAlexey BallJob MukwatamunduKhushboo KhimaniTessa MochizukiLucy AsegeAlice BukirwaJohn Baptist KatoDavid KatumbaEsther KisakyeWilson MangeniSandra MwebeMartha NakayeIrene NassunaJustine NyawereAnnet NakaweesaCatherine CookPatrick Peter John PhillipsTalemwa NalugwaChristine M BachmanFred Collins SemitalaBernhard H WeiglJohn T ConnellyWilliam WorodriaAdithya CattamanchiPublished in: Clinical infectious diseases : an official publication of the Infectious Diseases Society of America (2024)
Tongue swabs are a promising alternative to sputum for molecular diagnosis of TB, with sensitivity approaching sputum-based molecular tests. Our results provide valuable insights for developing successful tongue swab-based TB diagnostics.