Finding Out of Occult TB Cases using Extra Pulmonary Sample Aspirates by CBNAAT (Cartridge Based Nucleic Acid Amplification Test) in A&N Islands

Background: EPTB is tuberculosis in localized areas other than lungs like lymph nodes, genitourinary tract, pleura, bones, joints, meninges, central nervous system, peritoneum, and other abdominal Organs. EPTB diagnosis is often missed due to lack of classical symptoms and they are potential source of infection. Thus, EPTB also need attention for proper management and prevention of further propagation of TB cases. We investigated the samples aspirated from various sites like body fluids, FNACs etc. and processed them in CBNAAT. Materials& Methods Samples from OPD and IPD both were included in this study. all samples received from FNAC lymph node aspirate, CSF, Ascitic fluid, Pleural fluids. These samples were processed in CBNAAT technique. Results we collected 770 samples from all the departments from Jan 2019 till June 2019 at GB Pant hospital. Out of 770 samples 75 were extra pulmonary samples, 19 tested positive for Mycobacterium, 17 showed RIF sensitive while 2 samples were RIF resistance. Conclusion EPTB samples are significant in finding out TB cases which were otherwise missed out by routine investigations. It is strongly recommended to process all extra pulmonary samples for CBNAAT to use as the initial diagnostic test in individuals suspected of TB. It also helps to find out MDR cases.