Comparison of the Genedia MTB/NTM Detection Kit and Anyplex plus MTB/NTM Detection Kit for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and nontuberculous mycobacteria in clinical specimens

Background Real‐time (RT) PCR is a rapid and accurate method that is widely used for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTB). The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the performance of the Genedia MTB/NTM Detection Kit and the Anyplex plus MTB/NTM Detection kit in the detection of MTB and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in clinical specimens. Methods From October 2017 to February 2018, 236 respiratory specimens and 137 non‐respiratory specimens, from patients with suspected tuberculosis, were examined. AFB smear, culture, and RT‐PCR using the Genedia MTB/NTM Detection kit (Green Cross Medical Science Corp.) and the Anyplex plus MTB/NTM Detection kit (Seegene) were applied. PCR performance in the detection of MTB and NTM was evaluated in relation to culture results and between the two assays. Results Culture was positive for MTB in 30 (8.0%) of the 373 specimens and for NTM in 23 (6.2%). The sensitivity and specificity of MTB detection with the Genedia kit were 76.7% and 99.7%, respectively, whereas the Anyplex kit sensitivity and specificity for MTB detection were 86.7% and 97.5%, respectively. Both kits exhibited the same sensitivity (73.9%) for NTM detection, and the specificity was 100% and 99.4% for the Genedia and Anyplex kits, respectively. Conclusions The Genedia and Anyplex kits demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of MTB and NTM. Both kits have a high concordance rate and can be used more widely in clinical laboratories for the early detection of tuberculosis.