Evaluation of the BD ProbeTec ET system for the direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from clinical samples.

Early detection of disease caused by members of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) is essential in controlling transmission of tuberculosis. Clinical evaluation of the BD ProbeTec ET system for the direct detection of MTBC organisms in clinical specimens is carried out by comparing results obtained with conventional liquid culture and reference laboratory identification. In 186 specimens (159 respiratory, 27 non-respiratory), the BD ProbeTec ET assay detected eight out of 11 MTBC culture-positive specimens, with overall sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of 85%, 100%, 100% and 99%, respectively. The data show that the BD ProbeTec ET assay is a highly sensitive and specific technique, and gives an accurate result from a clinical specimen within three to four hours.