Diagnostic performance of DNA microarray for detecting rifampicin and isoniazid resistance in

backgroundWhile rifampicin (RFP) and isoniazid (INH) are the most commonly used first-line antituberculosis drugs, multidrug resistance in

methodsThe clinical features and DST results of patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis by Bactec MGIT 960 liquid culture system (Becton, Dickinson and Company, Franklin Lakes, NJ, USA) who received DNA microarray analysis in our center from July 2019 to July 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Level of agreement between liquid culture and DNA microarray technology was assessed by using the Cohen kappa coefficient. With the results of liquid culture as the gold standard, the sensitivity and specificity of the DNA microarray were calculated, and the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to assess the diagnostic values of the DNA microarray in detecting RFP + INH-resistant TB.

resultsA total of 825 patients were enrolled. The sensitivity and specificity of DNA microarray were 0.84 and 0.94, respectively, in the detection of RFP resistance, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.89 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.87-0.91)] and a Cohen kappa coefficient of 0.78 (95% CI: 0.72-0.83). For INH resistance, the sensitivity and specificity of the DNA microarray were 0.73 and 0.97, respectively, with an AUC of 0.85 (95% CI: 0.82-0.87) and a Cohen kappa coefficient of 0.75 (95% CI: 0.70-0.80).

conclusionsThe DNA microarray had high specificity and sensitivity in detecting RFP + INH-resistant TB. As a rapid, accurate, and practical technique, it can be routinely performed in clinical laboratories.