Updated Recommendation
A new evidence synthesis was published:2025, WHO consolidated guidelines on tuberculosis: module 3: diagnosis
View latest version (2025)Bibliographic information
Recommendation
In adults and children with signs and symptoms of extrapulmonary TB, Xpert MTB/RIF may be used in lymph node aspirate, lymph node biopsy, pleural fluid, peritoneal fluid, pericardial fluid, synovial fluid or urine specimens as the initial diagnostic test rather than smear microscopy/culture.
Recommended in favor
Conditional
Notes and Remarks
Remarks Clinical judgement and pretest probability should guide treatment. In a high pretest probability setting (>5%), a negative test result will not rule out the condition. Available data on Xpert MTB/RIF for children have included lymph node aspirate and lymph node biopsy specimens; given the similarity of the effects, the recommendation for adults is extrapolated for children.
Also Featured In
This recommendation also appears in the following guidelines:
WHO consolidated guidelines on tuberculosis: module 3: diagnosis – rapid diagnostics for tuberculosis detection: web annex 2. GRADE profiles
WHO consolidated guidelines on tuberculosis: module 3: diagnosis – rapid diagnostics for tuberculosis detection: web annex 2. GRADE profiles