An evaluation of the BD ProbeTec ET system for the direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in respiratory samples

North of England Regional Centre for Mycobacteriology, Public Health Laboratory, General Hospital, Westgate Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 6BE Corresponding author: Dr J. G. Magee (e-mail: newjmage{at}north.phls.nhs.uk ). Received 23 Jan. 2002; revised version accepted 9 June 2002. In controlling the spread of tuberculosis, early detection of disease caused by organisms of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) is vital. The BD ProbeTec ET system provides a method for the direct detection of MTBC by strand displacement amplification. Two hundred and five respiratory samples from patients with a high probability of tuberculosis were assessed by ProbeTec and by microscopy and culture for mycobacteria. ProbeTec positive results were obtained with 101 of 109 samples from which MTBC organisms were isolated. ProbeTec correctly signalled 78 of 81 samples that gave growths of mycobacteria other than tubercle bacilli (MOTT) as negative. Three samples gave false-positive results, corrected on repeat testing. Positive and negative predictive values (PPV, NPV) were 0.97 and 0.90 and the system showed a sensitivity and specificity of 92.7% and 96.0%, respectively. These values rose to PPV 0.97, NPV 0.96, sensitivity 97.1% and specificity 96.0% when data from the small number of gastric lavage samples tested were removed from the analysis. The BD ProbeTec ET system offers a robust and reliable molecular biological approach to the detection of MTBC organisms in respiratory samples in a semi-automated format.