Clinical efficacy of metagenomic next-generation sequencing for rapid detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in smear-negative extrapulmonary specimens in a high tuberculosis burden area

ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to assess the clinical utility metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) on smear-negative extrapulmonary specimens collected in China.MethodsSpecimens were tested by mNGS and other routine tests for tuberculosis (TB). The diagnostic accuracy calculated compared with final diagnosis.ResultsThe sensitivity found be significantly higher than sensitivities TB tests. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis showed that achieved highest area under (AUC) value 0.79. positive rate tuberculous meningitis. All non-tuberculous pathogens directly simultaneously detected.ConclusionsmNGS appeared superior all previous etiological could identify possible at once within 48 h.