Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is a global health concern, especially in China where about 1 million people are diagnosed with TB each year. Early treatment is key to combating the spread of the disease, so the faster it is diagnosed, the better. Many of the traditional tests for TB take a long time to yield results. A new method, called molecular diagnosis, produces results more quickly, but is it as accurate as traditional methods in diagnosing TB? To find out, we conducted a literature review and a meta-analysis of relevant Chinese studies looking at the accuracy of six molecular diagnostic TB tests that the Chinese Food and Drug Administration has approved. We found that molecular diagnostic TB tests are simple, fast, and accurate.