Advantage and usage of molecular fast test for tuberculosis: an integrative review

Abstract

Aim: to investigate though the literature the advantages and uses of the molecular test for fast tuberculosis diagnosis. Method: integrative review of literature with considering the guiding question elaborated by the PICO (P=Patient or Problem, I=Intervention, C=Comparison or control, O=Outcomes) strategy. A research was performed with articles available in full electronically published from 2008 to 2015 in the following databases: Virtual Health Library (VHL), Latin American and Caribbean Health Sciences (LILACS), Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE) and Science Direct. Results: The molecular Gene Xpert test, currently available for the diagnosis of tuberculosis, has the ability of detecting the presence of the disease causative bacillus, and identifying if the bacteria is resistant to rifampicin, in the period of two hours, besides greater sensitivity and specificity in relation to smear. Conclusions: molecular test for fast tuberculosis diagnosis was well accepted mainly for its speed, enabling a faster onset of treatment, important to minimize the spread of the disease