Xpert MTB/RIF versus sputum microscopy as the initial diagnostic test for tuberculosis: a cluster-randomised trial embedded in South African roll-out of Xpert MTB/RIF

• Main Authors: Dr. Gavin J Churchyard, PhD (Author), Wendy S Stevens, FCPath (Author), Lerole D Mametja, MPH (Author), Kerrigan M McCarthy, FCPath (Author), Violet Chihota, PhD (Author), Mark P Nicol, FCPath (Author), Linda K Erasmus, MMed (Author), Norbert O Ndjeka, MMed (Author), Lindiwe Mvusi, MBBCh (Author), Anna Vassall, PhD (Author), Edina Sinanovic, PhD (Author), Helen S Cox, PhD (Author), Christopher Dye, DPhil (Author), Alison D Grant, PhD (Author), Katherine L Fielding, PhD (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Elsevier, 2015-08-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.

Background: In South Africa, sputum smear microscopy has been replaced with Xpert MTB/RIF as the initial diagnostic test for tuberculosis. In a pragmatic parallel cluster-randomised trial, we evaluated the effect on patient and programme outcomes. Methods: We randomly allocated 20 laboratories (clus...