Comparison of acid-fast bacilli smear and chromatographic immunoassay in patients with active tuberculosis

The aim of this study was to compare acid-fast bacilli smear and chromatographic immunoassay in patients with active tuberculosis (TB). The ability to rapidly detect tubercle bacilli in respiratory secretions was determined for the acid-fast bacilli (AFB) smear in comparison with chromatographic immunoassay in serum samples. A total of 96 respiratory specimens and 96 serum samples were evaluated. The chromatographic immunoassay and AFB were positive in six patients (6.25%) and negative in 90 of 96 specimens (93.75%). The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of chromatographic immunoassay and AFB were 100%. These results demonstrated the clinical usefulness of chromatographic immunoassay assay for the rapid diagnosis of TB in serum. And compared with the AFB smear, the chromatographic immunoassay assay gives a successful diagnosis.