Performance of ICT-TB test in the detection of pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis

ABSTRACT

Tuberculosis is a major public health problem of the developing nations including Pakistan. We need a simple, economical and non invasive test to make an early diagnosis of T.B. in order to avoid the complications. A study was conducted at the Dept. of Pulmonology, PGMI LRH Peshawar and Ayub Teaching Hospital Abbottabad with the collaboration of Deptt of Pathology KMC Peshawar from Jan 1998 to Dec 2002. A total of 129 patients were included in the study. Out of these 129 patients 52 were pulmonary TB [PTB] smear positive, 30 were PTB smear negative, 30 pleural effusion and 17 were TB lymphadenitis. The control group consisted of 25 non TB patients and healthy subjects. Antibody was detected in 23 of 52 [44%] sputum positive patients, 11 of 30 [36%] sputum negative PTB patients, 10 of 30 [20%] patients of TB pleural effusion and 6 of 17 [35%] patients of TB lymphadenitis. Antibody was detected in none of the control subjects. The overall sensitivity for Pul-T.B. Sputum positive patients was 44%, 36% for sputum Negative Pulmonary TB, 20% for TB pleural effusion and 35% for TB lymphadenitis. The specificity was 100%. ICTTB is a highly specific, but less sensitive aid in the diagnosis of Pulmonology and extra Pulmonology TB