Evaluation of a simple loop-mediated isothermal amplification test kit for the diagnosis of tuberculosis

OBJECTIVE: A new loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) test kit, including a simple DNA extraction device for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex, was developed for commercial use and evaluated for its usefulness in diagnosing tuberculosis (TB). DESIGN: The LAMP test was performed using untreated and N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NALC) NaOH-treated sputum specimen. The efficiency of the kit was compared with other conventional laboratory examinations, including other nucleic acid amplification (NAA) tests. RESULTS: The sensitivity of LAMP using raw sputum (direct LAMP) in smear- and culture-positive specimens was 98.2% (95% CI 94.9-99.4), while the sensitivity in smear-negative, culture-positive specimens was 55.6% (95% CI 43.4-68.0). The diagnostic sensitivity of direct LAMP for the diagnosis of individuals with TB was 88.2% (95% CI 81.4-92.7). The sensitivity values of direct LAMP were slightly, but not statistically significantly lower than those of Cobas Amplicor MTB and TRC Rapid MT, while the sensitivity of the LAMP test using NALC-NaOH treated sputum was significantly lower than other NAA tests (P < 0.05) for smear-negative, culture-positive specimens. The new commercial version of the LAMP kit was easy to handle and yielded results within 1 h of receiving sputum specimens. CONCLUSIONS: This test is considered a promising diagnostic tool for TB, even for peripheral laboratories with limited equipment, such as those in developing countries.