Comparison between TRCReady MTB and MTB ELITe MGB kit for the direct detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex in respiratory and non-respiratory samples

<em>Background</em>: A recent World Health Organization survey estimated about 10.4 million new tuberculosis (TB) cases per year with a high mortality rate. A rapid and accurate diagnosis of TB is very important for the optimal treatment and the prevention of spread. In the last few years rapid nucleic acid amplification tests for the detection of <em>Mycobacterium</em> <em>tuberculosis</em> <em>complex</em> (MTB) were developed. <br /><em>Materials and methods</em>: In this study we have compared TRCReady MTB, based on the Transcription Reverse Transcription Concerted Reaction technology (TRC) and MTB ELITe MGB Kit, a qualitative nucleic acid amplification assay, for the direct detection of MTB in 56 respiratory and 24 non-respiratory specimens, collected from September to November 2015. <br /><em>Results</em>: Both methods did not detect any MTB in 45 respiratory samples and in 22 non-respiratory specimens with negative cultures. MTB ELITe MGB Kit identified MTB in 8 respiratory samples with MTB positive cultures, 7 of which were detected by TRCReady MTB as well. Two non-respiratory MTB positive cultures were correctly identified by both methods. In two respiratory samples with <em>Mycobacterium Other Than Tuberculosis</em> positive cultures both methods provided negative results. <br /><em>Conclusions</em>: In conclusion, TRCReady MTB performance proved comparable to that of MTB ELITe MGB Kit in the diagnosis of pulmonary and extra-pulmonary TB, with a shorter analytical time (50 vs 110 min).