Reliability of a Test for Diagnosis of DR-TB

Reliability is a measure of a test’s performance. The reliability of a diagnostic test depends on theaccuracy and reproducibility of the test results.

In the context of Drug Resistant (DR) TB, the reliable test  should accurately be able to detect the DR-TB and provide important information that assists in the diagnosis, treatment, or monitoring of a patient with DR-TB, i.e., it should provide accurate Drug Susceptibility pattern of TB.

Reliable Drug-resistant Tuberculosis (DR-TB) Diagnostic Tests in India 

Most of the WHO endorsed reliable tests for diagnosis of DR-TB are now available in India, and offered by laboratories certified by the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP).

Rapid molecular testing is making it increasingly feasible to detect multidrug/rifampicin-resistant TB (MDR/RR-TB) early and to use the results to guide treatment decisions.

In India, WHO-approved rapid molecular DST is recommended and being offered as the initial test to detect drug resistance before the initiation of appropriate treatment for all TB patients, including new patients and patients with a previous history of TB treatment.

Methods for phenotypic DST – on Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube (MGIT) – for Bedaquiline (Bdq), Linezolid (Lzd), Clofazimine (Cfz), Pyrazinamide and Delamanid (Dlm) have also been validated now.

Resources

• Guidelines for Programmatic Management of Drug Resistant TB In India 2021
• Reliability and Validity of Diagnostic Tests, Academic Emergency Medicine
• Reliability of diagnostic tests, Gjørup T. Acta Obstet Gynecol Scand Suppl. 1997

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