Nd optical detection system for real-time monitoring and a microchip with integrated temperature control elements. The Truenat MTB test involves sputum processing using a battery-operated sample preparation device, Trueprep-MAGTM, which extracts nucleic acids by a simple menu driven process using a nanoparticle-based protocol optimized for sputum. The device integrates all operations (heating, fluid mixing, Licochalcone A magnet control, step timing) using on a programmed micro-controller, and easy to follow screen instructions, thereby enabling nucleic acid isolation without the need for any additional equipment. The chip-based test has been designed to simplify the process of real-time PCR from `sample to result’ so that laboratories with minimal infrastructure can easily perform these tests routinely in their facilities and report PCR results in less than an hour.SettingsSample collection, Smear Microscopy, MGIT culture and nested PCR was performed at Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai. The Truenat MTB tests were performed by Hinduja staff at bigtec Laboratories, Bangalore.Study population and specimensThis was a single site, blinded, cross-sectional study to determine the performance of the Truenat MTB in patients with symptoms of pulmonary TB in comparison to conventional methodologies. Sputum specimens were taken from patients presenting routinely to our hospital with suspected pulmonary TB. Standard diagnostic follow-up (smear, culture, and in-house nested PCR) was performed on all patients. Where available, leftover sputum specimens were tested using Truenat MTB. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Hinduja hospital. (Fig. 1)MethodsAs described previously [7], direct and concentrated acid-fast bacillus (AFB) microscopy (Ziehl-Neelsen [ZN] staining) was performed, 94-09-7 chemical information followed by sputum processing with 2 N-acetyl-Lcysteine and sodium hydroxide (NALC-NaOH) and centrifugation. The re-suspended pellet was subjected to cultivation on liquid medium (MGIT [mycobacteria growth indicator tube]). Digested and decontaminated (2 NALC-NaOH) sputum specimens that were culture negative for mycobacterium and confirmed “Non-TB cases” were pooled for use as a negative control. A suspension of M. tuberculosis H37RV was prepared in sterile saline and adjusted to the density of a 1.0 McFarland standard. The suspension was diluted 1:10 in saline and used to spike the pooled above mentioned negative control and used as a positive control. Spiked specimens were stored at 270uC until further processing.Materials and Methods EthicsThis study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Hinduja hospital. Waiver of consent was obtained by Institutional Review Board, PD Hinduja Hospital and MRC., Mumbai, India. Waiver of consent was obtained as the study was carried out on left-over banked sediments identified by a laboratory generated number with no traceability to the patients. All patients’ details were thus kept confidential. The Truenat MTB 1379592 results were not used in clinical decision making.Truenat MTB DiagnosisFigure 3. Addition of 5 ml of DNA to Truenat MTB chip. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0051121.g003 Figure 2. Sample loading on Trueprep-MAG device. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0051121.gPatient categoriesA composite reference standard (CRS) was used to categorise patients. Patients were allocated into the following groups based on a combination of smear status, culture results, clinical treatment and follow-up, and radiology.Nd optical detection system for real-time monitoring and a microchip with integrated temperature control elements. The Truenat MTB test involves sputum processing using a battery-operated sample preparation device, Trueprep-MAGTM, which extracts nucleic acids by a simple menu driven process using a nanoparticle-based protocol optimized for sputum. The device integrates all operations (heating, fluid mixing, magnet control, step timing) using on a programmed micro-controller, and easy to follow screen instructions, thereby enabling nucleic acid isolation without the need for any additional equipment. The chip-based test has been designed to simplify the process of real-time PCR from `sample to result’ so that laboratories with minimal infrastructure can easily perform these tests routinely in their facilities and report PCR results in less than an hour.SettingsSample collection, Smear Microscopy, MGIT culture and nested PCR was performed at Hinduja Hospital and Medical Research Centre, Mumbai. The Truenat MTB tests were performed by Hinduja staff at bigtec Laboratories, Bangalore.Study population and specimensThis was a single site, blinded, cross-sectional study to determine the performance of the Truenat MTB in patients with symptoms of pulmonary TB in comparison to conventional methodologies. Sputum specimens were taken from patients presenting routinely to our hospital with suspected pulmonary TB. Standard diagnostic follow-up (smear, culture, and in-house nested PCR) was performed on all patients. Where available, leftover sputum specimens were tested using Truenat MTB. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Hinduja hospital. (Fig. 1)MethodsAs described previously [7], direct and concentrated acid-fast bacillus (AFB) microscopy (Ziehl-Neelsen [ZN] staining) was performed, followed by sputum processing with 2 N-acetyl-Lcysteine and sodium hydroxide (NALC-NaOH) and centrifugation. The re-suspended pellet was subjected to cultivation on liquid medium (MGIT [mycobacteria growth indicator tube]). Digested and decontaminated (2 NALC-NaOH) sputum specimens that were culture negative for mycobacterium and confirmed “Non-TB cases” were pooled for use as a negative control. A suspension of M. tuberculosis H37RV was prepared in sterile saline and adjusted to the density of a 1.0 McFarland standard. The suspension was diluted 1:10 in saline and used to spike the pooled above mentioned negative control and used as a positive control. Spiked specimens were stored at 270uC until further processing.Materials and Methods EthicsThis study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Hinduja hospital. Waiver of consent was obtained by Institutional Review Board, PD Hinduja Hospital and MRC., Mumbai, India. Waiver of consent was obtained as the study was carried out on left-over banked sediments identified by a laboratory generated number with no traceability to the patients. All patients’ details were thus kept confidential. The Truenat MTB 1379592 results were not used in clinical decision making.Truenat MTB DiagnosisFigure 3. Addition of 5 ml of DNA to Truenat MTB chip. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0051121.g003 Figure 2. Sample loading on Trueprep-MAG device. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0051121.gPatient categoriesA composite reference standard (CRS) was used to categorise patients. Patients were allocated into the following groups based on a combination of smear status, culture results, clinical treatment and follow-up, and radiology.
