The first randomised trial to measure the impact of the rapid Xpert MTB/RIF test for tuberculosis (TB) in a real-life clinical setting finds that it can be accurately performed by a non-specialist with minimal training, improves same-day diagnosis and time to starting treatment, and increases the number of people who start treatment after testing positive on day 1 by 50%, compared with conventional TB diagnostics.

"Despite already being rolled-out in many countries, our study is the first to look at the feasibility of the Xpert test in a real-life clinical setting in southern Africa", explains study leader Professor Keertan Dheda from the Department of Medicine, University of Cape Town in South Africa in The Lancet.