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Table 2 Comparison of sample collection yield among patients culture-positive for M. tuberculosis by any collection method

From: Intensified specimen collection to improve tuberculosis diagnosis in children from Rural South Africa, an observational study

TB status*

Sputum smear

Sputum culture

Gastric smear

Gastric culture**

Blood

Urine

DST interpretation***

Age (years)

HIV status

CD4%

Possible

-

+

-

+

-

-

DS

1.3

Negative

n/a

Possible

-

+

+

+

-

-

DS

2.2

Negative

n/a

Possible

-

+

-

-

-

-

DS

1.7

Positive

5.3

Possible

-

-

NC

NC

-

+

MDR

8.3

Positive

17.4

Probable

-

+

-

+

-

NC

DS

2.0

Negative

n/a

Probable

-

+

+

+

+

-

DS

1.5

Negative

n/a

Probable

+

+

NC

NC

+

+

DS

7.0

Positive

2.6

Probable

+

+

+

+

+

+

XDR

11

Positive

10.9

Total positive (% of collected)

2 (25)

7 (88)

3 (50)

5 (83)

3 (38)

3 (43)

    
  1. *TB status prior to obtaining microbiologic confirmation.
  2. **Among the subjects who had positive cultures by gastric aspirates, 4 (80%) demonstrated culture-positivity from all three aspirates while 1 (20%) child only demonstrated culture-positivity from the first two aspirates and left the hospital prior to collection of the third aspirate.
  3. ***DST: drug susceptibility testing.
  4. XDR: extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis. DS: drug susceptible. MDR: multi-drug resistant. NC: not collected.
  5. n/a: not applicable.