Accuracy of Rapid Quantitative PCR on Tongue Swabs for Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Sputum-Scarce Patients: A Prospective Multicenter Diagnostic Study
Tongue swab-based PCR represents a non-invasive, accurate, and highly specific diagnostic approach for tuberculosis, particularly in sputum-scarce or sputum-negative individuals. While this study demonstrates its superior performance in such populations, further optimization of sampling protocols and molecular assays is needed to improve detection sensitivity in cases with low bacillary loads. Integrating tongue swab testing into routine TB diagnostic algorithms could enhance case detection, strengthen drug resistance surveillance, and contribute to reducing transmission.
Authors
- Qingsi Li (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5126-7384)
- Long Jin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6055-4692)
- Zichun Ma
- Dapeng Fan (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8455-733X)
- Jin Shi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0007-9379-5998)
- Dan Shen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0009-9756-1608)
- Yilin Wang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0776-6215)
- Long Cai
- Junwei Cui
- Can Guo
- Wei Jing
- Yuanyuan Shang
- Liang Li
- Qijian Li
- Yu Pang
- Rui Li
- Shanshan Li
Institutions
- Beijing Chest Hospital (CN)
- First Affiliated Hospital of Xinxiang Medical University (CN)
- Heilongjiang Provincial Hospital (CN)
- Hangzhou Red Cross Hospital (CN)
- Dian Diagnostics (China) (CN)
- Henan Medical University (CN)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Clinical Infectious Diseases
- Published
- 2026-02-05
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciag071
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 32.78