This is a prospective, multicenter cohort study in which the accuracy and the diagnostic yield of the Stool Processing Kit (SPK) in combination with Xpert Ultra MTB/RIF (Ultra) on stool samples will be assessed using a microbiological reference standard and a composite reference standard among children with signs and symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis.

FIND and partners have developed a simple Stool Processing Kit (SPK) that will enable processing of large numbers of stool samples, removal of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) inhibitors which can be used at level 1 health facilities in low and middle income countries.

The SPK is not a diagnostic kit as such but rather a sample processing method. This study aims to determine the sensitivity and specificity of Xpert Ultra MTB/RIF (Ultra) combined with SPK for TB detection using microbiological confirmation on respiratory specimens (defined as sputum, naso-pharyngeal aspirate, and/or gastric aspirate) as the reference standard. The investigators will further evaluate operational characteristics, including implementation considerations that will be needed for the potential rollout of the SPK.

Additionally, a comparison of the performance of the SPK with up to two other centrifuge-free stool processing methods will be done on the same stool samples. The first is a method developed by researchers at the KNCV Tuberculosis Foundation (Single One Step Stool) which does not require any additional reagents other than the Ultra Sample Reagent. The second is a method developed by the Pediatric Asian African Network for Tuberculosis and HIV Research (PANTHER) group, the Optimized Sucrose Flotation method. Another diagnostic candidate, the urine Fujifilm SILVAMP TB LAM (FujiLAM) test will be assessed during the study.

Therefore, if the sensitivity of any of these tests is shown to be promising this may support further research and provide other alternatives to respiratory samples.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children of 14 years of age or younger

• Written parent/guardian consent and child assent based on age and national ethical guidelines

• Willingness to have a study follow-up visit

• Clinical suspicion of active pulmonary TB* OR microbiological confirmation of active TB disease referred from non-study health facilities

  • Chest X-ray suggestive of TB, or weight loss or failure to thrive within 3 months not solely due to inadequate feeding, or another non-TB cause, or any cough with loss of weight, or cough alone >=14 days, or persistent (>1 week) and unexplained fever

Exclusion Criteria:

• Anti-TB treatment for >5 days or any antibiotic with anti-mycobacteria activity within 60 days prior to enrollment including children on Isoniazid Preventive Therapy
• (confirmed) extra-pulmonary TB only

Children who are 14 years of age or younger who present with signs and symptoms of pulmonary TB, or have microbiological confirmation of active tuberculosis (TB) and are referred to enrollment sites