To establish the sensitivity and specificity of glutaraldehyde blood coagulation test (GBCT) in children with Tuberculosis Infection and Tuberculosis Disease.
This is a prospective, randomized case control study of 98 children, ages 1–17 years old. Detailed history of exposure to TB, signs and symptoms, anthropometric measurements, Mantoux test, chest radiograph were done. The children were classified as normal, with Tuberculosis Infection (Latent TB) or TB Disease. The EDTA containing serum of the children were mixed with equal amounts of 2.5% glutaraldehyde. A positive reaction is recorded as coagulation, gel formation within 10 minutes.
Thirty eight (39%) of children were normal, twenty seven (27%) hed TB Infection and thirty three (34%) had TB Disease. Positive Glutaraldehyde Blood Coagulation Test was seen in ten (26%), nine (33%) and twenty (61%) of normal subjects, for those with TB Infection (Latent TB) and for those with TB Disease respectively. The sensitivity of the Glutaraldehyde Blood Coagulation Test in diagnosing children with Tuberculosis Infection is 33% and specificity of 74%. It has a positive likelihood ratio of 1.27 and a negative likelihood ratio of 0.9. The sensitivity of Glutaraldehyde Blood Coagulation Test has is 61% in diagnosing TB Disease and specificity of 74% with positive likelihood ratio is 2.35 with a negative likelihood ratio of 0.53.
Glutaraldehyde Blood Coagulation Test is not sensitive for TB Infection, however, it is sensitive for TB Disease.
Glutaraldehyde blood coagulation test can be use as adjunct to the diagnosis of tuberculosis disease in children.
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