What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to compare the effectiveness of tongue swab-based molecular testing and sputum-based molecular testing for tuberculosis diagnosis.

March 12, 2026

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Diagnostic Yield of Tongue Swab- Compared to Sputum-Based Molecular Testing for Tuberculosis in Four High-Burden Countries.

CMCaitlin A. MoeUniversity of California, San Francisco RLRita Kabuleta LuswataWorld Health Organization - Uganda JBJheannie BarramedaNovosibirsk Tuberculosis Research Institute

Key Points

This research aims to compare the effectiveness of tongue swab-based molecular testing and sputum-based molecular testing for tuberculosis diagnosis.
Conducted a comparative analysis of tongue swab and sputum-based molecular testing.
Utilized MiniDock MTB for diagnostic testing.
Evaluated diagnostic yield in four high-burden tuberculosis countries.
Tongue swab testing achieved a diagnostic yield similar to sputum testing.
Demonstrated a non-inferior performance for detecting tuberculosis with tongue swabs.
Supports potential for wider implementation of tongue swab testing in challenging conditions.

Abstract

Tongue swab-based molecular testing with MiniDock MTB achieved non-inferior diagnostic yield compared with sputum-based molecular testing. These findings support scale-up of swab-based platforms as a cost-efficient alternative, particularly where sputum collection is challenging or smear microscopy remains the primary diagnostic method.

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Cite This Study

Moe et al. (Tue,) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69b25b1996eeacc4fcec9867 https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1093/cid/ciag077

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