What question did this study set out to answer?

To analyze the utility of Xpert MTB/XDR in detecting drug resistance for patients with rifampicin indeterminate results.

January 14, 2026Open Access

P-1377. Utility of Xpert MTB/XDR Assay in Patients with Rifampicin Indeterminate Results on Xpert MTB/Rif Ultra with Trace Load

Key Points

To analyze the utility of Xpert MTB/XDR in detecting drug resistance for patients with rifampicin indeterminate results.
Conducted a retrospective study at a pediatric TB clinic in Mumbai, India.
Included 89 children under 18 diagnosed with TB from October 2020 to August 2024.
Analyzed data on rifampicin resistance and MTB load from Xpert MTB/Rif, Ultra, and Xpert MTB/XDR.
62.92% of patients were rifampicin resistant (RR), 13.5% were indeterminate (RI), and 23.6% were rifampicin sensitive (RS).
Xpert MTB/XDR did not detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis in 7.14% of RR, 33.3% of RI, and 14.29% of RS cases.
Out of 9 samples with trace results, 55.56% had actionable results on Xpert MTB/XDR for further treatment.

Abstract

Abstract Background Rapid nucleic acid amplification tests (NAAT), such as Xpert MTB/Rif, Xpert Ultra, and Xpert MTB/XDR, are critical for diagnosing pediatric tuberculosis (TB) and detecting drug resistance. However, rifampicin indeterminate (RI) results, particularly in samples with trace Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) load, pose a clinical challenge. Current guidelines do not recommend performing Xpert MTB/XDR in patients with prior trace calls on Xpert Ultra. The aim of this study is to analyze the drug-resistance results on Xpert MTB/Rif or Ultra and Xpert MTB/XDR, particularly the results of Xpert MTB/XDR in those patients with prior RI results on Xpert MTB/Rif or Ultra and in those with trace calls on Xpert Ultra.Table 1:Samples tested and the type of tuberculosis in the patients based on the results of Xpert MTB/Rif or Ultra and Xpert MTB/XDR assaysTable 2:Results of Xpert MTB/Rif or Ultra assay (rifampicin resistance, MTB load) and Xpert MTB/XDR panelNote: MTB- Mycobacterium tuberculosis, RR- Rifampicin resistant, RI- Rifampicin indeterminate, RS- Rifampicin sensitive, *Plain- refers to Xpert MTB/Rif, INH- Isoniazid, FQ- Fluoroquinolone, Amk- Amikacin, Kan- Kanamycin, Cap- Capreomycin, Eto- Ethionamide. Methods A retrospective study was conducted at a pediatric TB clinic in Mumbai, India, including 89 children less than 18 years of age, diagnosed with TB, between October 2020 and August 2024. All patients were positive on Xpert MTB/Rif or Ultra and underwent Xpert MTB/XDR testing. Data on rifampicin resistance, MTB load, and resistance to other drugs were analyzed. Results Fifty-six(62.92%) patients were rifampicin resistant (RR), 12(13.5%) were RI, and 21(23.6%) were rifampicin sensitive(RS). Xpert MTB/XDR did not detect Mycobacetrium tuberculosis(MTB) in 4(7.14%) patients with RR, 4(33.3%) patients with RI, and 3(14.29%) patients with RS results. Of 12 RI results on Xpert MTB/Rif or Ultra, 3(25%) had very low MTB load and 9(75%) had trace MTB load. Of the 9 samples with trace results, Xpert MTB/XDR detected MTB in 5(55.56%) of which 2(40%) had pan-indeterminate drug-resistance results on Xpert MTB/XDR, 2(40%) were pan-sensitive on Xpert MTB/XDR, and 1(20%) was sensitive to isoniazid and fluoroquinolones, but resistant to second-line injectable drugs and ethionamide. Thus, 3 out of 9(33.33%) patients with trace calls had actionable results on Xpert MTB/XDR. Conclusion Both, RI results on Xpert MTB/Rif or Ultra and non-detection of MTB on Xpert MTB/XDR, are associated with lower MTB-loads on Xpert MTB/Rif or Ultra. Xpert MTB/XDR is useful in clinical decision-making in one-third of the patients with prior RI trace calls on Xpert Ultra and may be useful in devising an antitubercular therapy regimen when a second sample may not be easily available for testing. Disclosures All Authors: No reported disclosures

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