FluoroType MTB system for the detection of pulmonary tuberculosis

FluoroType MTB (Hain Lifescience, Germany) is a new molecular test for the detection of TB that involves DNA amplification and detection via PCR in a closed system, with automated analysis, which can process up to 96 samples within 3 h. The extracted DNA can be used in genotypic DST line probe assays. DNA extraction can be performed manually or using an automated DNA extraction system (GenoXtract). A prospective assessment of the system in a low-incidence setting found the sensitivity and specificity to be 88.1% and 98.9%, respectively, in comparison with culture [4]. However, the system has not been evaluated in resource-poor settings. We sought to evaluate the FluoroType MTB assay in Zankli Research Laboratory, Zankli Medical Centre, Abuja, Nigeria.