Field evaluation of a prototype tuberculosis lipoarabinomannan lateral flow assay on HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients

PLoS One. 2021 Jul 26;16(7):e0254156. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0254156. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

Detection of tuberculosis at the point-of-care (POC) is limited by the low sensitivity of current commercially available tests. We describe a diagnostic accuracy field evaluation of a prototype urine Tuberculosis Lipoarabinomannan Lateral Flow Assay (TB-LAM LFA) in both HIV-positive and HIV-negative patients using fresh samples with sensitivity and specificity as the measures of accuracy. This prototype combines a proprietary concentration system with a sensitive LFA. In a prospective study of 292 patients with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis in Uganda, the clinical sensitivity and specificity was compared against a microbiological reference standard including sputum Xpert MTB/RIF Ultra and solid and liquid culture. TB-LAM LFA had an overall sensitivity of 60% (95%CI 51-69%) and specificity of 80% (95%CI 73-85%). When comparing HIV-positive (N = 86) and HIV-negative (N = 206) patients, there was no significant difference in sensitivity (sensitivity difference 8%, 95%CI -11% to +24%, p = 0.4351) or specificity (specificity difference -9%, 95%CI -24% to +4%, p = 0.2051). Compared to the commercially available Alere Determine TB-LAM Ag test, the TB-LAM LFA prototype had improved sensitivity in both HIV-negative (difference 49%, 95%CI 37% to 59%, p<0.0001) and HIV-positive patients with CD4+ T-cell counts >200cells/μL (difference 59%, 95%CI 32% to 75%, p = 0.0009). This report is the first to show improved performance of a urine TB LAM test for HIV-negative patients in a high TB burden setting. We also offer potential assay refinement solutions that may further improve sensitivity and specificity.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Female
  • HIV / pathogenicity
  • HIV Infections / complications
  • HIV Infections / microbiology
  • HIV Infections / urine*
  • HIV Infections / virology
  • HIV Seropositivity / microbiology
  • HIV Seropositivity / urine*
  • HIV Seropositivity / virology
  • Humans
  • Lipopolysaccharides / urine*
  • Male
  • Point-of-Care Testing
  • Sputum / microbiology
  • Sputum / virology
  • Tuberculosis / complications
  • Tuberculosis / microbiology
  • Tuberculosis / urine*
  • Tuberculosis / virology
  • Uganda / epidemiology
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Lipopolysaccharides
  • lipoarabinomannan

Grants and funding

Funding was provided by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Trust to Global Good Fund, providing support in the form of salaries for JTC, BDG, AB, BBL, HVH, BHW, VMH, SB, CB, DB, and AS, as well as financial support for the study. The funders did not have any role in study design, data collection and interpretation, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.