Tongue swab Mycobacterium tuberculosis qPCR for community screening of asymptomatic TB vs. clinic-based triage of symptomatic TB

Key Points

• Sensitivity for asymptomatic TB screening using tongue swab qPCR is about half that compared to screening for symptomatic TB.
• Approximately half of facility-based triage was achieved, indicating low efficacy of community-based screening methods.
• Assessment shows a correlation between increased radiographic severity and enhanced sensitivity in detecting asymptomatic TB.
• Results highlight the limitations of using tongue swabs for effective TB community screening, particularly for asymptomatic cases.