Assessment of Diagnostic Methods for Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Iraqi Patients: A Comparative Study of AFB Staining, IGRA and GeneXpert PCR | ||
| Egyptian Journal of Medical Microbiology | ||
| Articles in Press, Accepted Manuscript, Available Online from 01 April 2026 | ||
| Document Type: New and original researches in the field of Microbiology. | ||
| DOI: 10.21608/ejmm.2025.409460.1816 | ||
| Authors | ||
| Mohammed A. Alkarkhi* 1; Firas A. Mohammed2; Imad A. Lateef3; Alaa M. Albayati4; Suhad H. Hassan5 | ||
| 1Department of Microbiology and Immunology, College of medicine, University of Diyala, Iraq | ||
| 2Department of Teaching Laboratories, Baquba Teaching Hospital, Diyala Health Directorate, Diyala, Iraq | ||
| 3Department of Internal Medicine, Baquba Teaching Hospital, Diyala Health Directorate, Diyala,Iraq | ||
| 4Public health deparment, Diyala Health Directorate, Diyala, Iraq | ||
| 5Baquba Public Health Laboratory, Diyala Health Directorate, Diyala, Iraq | ||
| Abstract | ||
| Background: Active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) remains the highest health encounter worldwide, but with early and accurate diagnosis being important for successful control and treatment.in Iraq, the incidence of TB is significant. Objectives: Aim of this study to determine the requirement for dependable diagnostic tests is principally important in diagnosis of active pulmonary TB. Methodology: This study was done for assessment of three diagnostic methods Acid-Fast Bacilli (AFB) smear microscopy, the Interferon Gamma Release Assay (IGRA) and GeneXpert automated Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) by their sensitivity and specificity in the diagnosis of Iraqi patients with active pulmonary tuberculosis. Eighty eight patients with suspected active pulmonary TB were enrolled. Samples were collected from all patients attended the Institute of Respiratory diseases, Baghdad, Iraq and investigated by three diagnostic methods and the results were compared to a multiple reference standard. Results: the study reported that a sensitivity (100%) and a specificity (85%) for smear microscopy (AFB), also demonstrated a sensitivity of (100%) and a specificity (71%) for the IGRA test while reported (100%) of both sensitivity and specificity respectively by The GeneXpert PCR. A higher sensitivity was recorded, by Statistical analysis in The GeneXpert PCR compared with other two diagnostic tests (p < 0.05). Conclusion: the results of this study reported that The GeneXpert automated PCR showed a higher sensitivity in the diagnosis of the Iraqi patient with active pulmonary TB in study population. The study recommended that The GeneXpert automated PCR may be the most dependable test used for diagnosis of TB in Iraq. Furthermore, this study reported the significance of combined diagnostic methods taking in consideration the strengths and limitations of each technique. | ||
| Keywords | ||
| Tuberculosis; GeneXpert PCR; IGRA; AFB; Sensitivity | ||
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