Evaluation of the Truenat™MTB Plus/COVID-19 Test for TB (Tuberculosis) and COVID-19 (SARS-CoV2)

Adult patient with presumptive TB will be screened for inclusion at 4 geographically diverse participating centres in high TB burden countries. This will be the first large scale evaluation on prospectively collected fresh samples.

Telephonic follow-up visits at 2 weeks (for baseline COVID-19 negative patients) and 2 months (for all participants) after enrolment will help overcome the challenges of using MRS only. Follow-up will be conducted telephonically two weeks post-enrolment for participants who tested negative for COVID-19at enrolment to determine any change in status -this is intended to account for participants who may have tested 'early' for COVID-19at enrolment (false negative) but subsequently developed symptoms or tested COVID-19positive. Similarly, investigators will conduct a telephonic follow-up two months post-enrolment among all participants to determine if: 1) participants diagnosed with confirmed TB at enrolment were linked to treatment; and 2) assess if any new TB diagnoses were made.

This multi-center study will evaluate the performance of the Truenat™ MTB (Mycobacterium tuberculosis) Plus/COVID-19multiplex test using prospectively collected NP swabs and sputum samples from patients with symptoms suggestive of TB and collect alternative tongue swab samples for further research use. The data gathered from this study, will form part of the dossier to be submitted to WHO (world health organization) for review.

Inclusion criteria

• Adult (≥18 years); and
• Able to provide written informed consent in their chosen language; and
• Self-report at least one or more symptoms suggestive of pulmonary TB*; and
• Willing to return for a day 2 visit
• Willing to provide oral swab samples for biobanking * cough ≥2 weeks, fever, night sweats or unintended weight-loss

Exclusion criteria

• Any tuberculosis preventive therapy (TPT) within 6 months prior to enrolment
• Any anti-TB treatment within 60 days prior to enrolment (not current episode)
• Unable to provide 3ml of sputum, nasopharyngeal and tongue swabs on Day1
• Unable to provide all study samples before starting the 3rddose of anti-TB treatment.