Line probe assay in the rapid detection of rifampin-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis directly from clinical specimens

The sensitivity of a PCR-based line probe assay (Inno-LiPA Rif. TB Assay; I nnogenetics NV Zwijndrecht, Belgium) was studied bg using nested-PCR techni que, A total of 75 specimens, representing various body locations from 70 s uspected tuberculosis patients were obtained, LiPA yielded 30 Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex positive results (sensitivity 58.8%, compared with fi nal diagnoses) whereas culture for M. tuberculosis was positive in 18 speci mens (sensitivity 35.3%), Genotypic rifampin resistance testing by LiPA sho wed that 7 specimens contained rpoB mutations associated with RMP resistanc e, and sequencing data of the rpoB gene and LiPA patterns agreed in 29 of 3 0 M. tuberculosis positive specimens (96.7%), This indicates reliable perfo rmance, which makes the test suitable for the rapid determination of resist ance to rifampin directly in clinical samples, However, the best results ar e obtained if LiPA is combined with conventional staining and culture metho ds.