Tuberculosis still constitutes a major health problem worldwide with an 8.8% incidence and 1.3%mortality rate reported in 2010. Traditionally the diagnosis of active TB is mainly based on chest X Ray, microscopy and body fluid culture whilst the diagnosis of latent TB depends on the tuberculin skin test or haematology tests. Acid fast bacilli smear microscopy remains the most used and widely used TB diagnostic method available in low income and middle-income countries. However, as many as 40-50% of active TB cases were smear negative TB culture requires 2-6 weeks for interpretation and has less than perfect sensitivity. GenXpert showed both high sensitivity and high specificity and suggested its high value in TB diagnosis. This study confirms the superiority of GenXpert on TB test compared to ZN staining in the detection of tuberculosis and in the prediction of multi resistance. Its systematic use coupled with ZN staining would better control tuberculosis in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Keywords: GenXpert; TB; AFB.