GeneXpert MTB/RIF (CBNAAT) test
Quick answer: This test looks for the genetic material of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in a sample and checks for resistance to the TB medicine rifampicin. Doctors order it when tuberculosis is suspected in the lungs or elsewhere in the body.
- SampleSputum, urine, CSF, body fluid or semen
- TakesA few minutes to give a sample; longer if a doctor collects fluid or tissue
- Before the testFor sputum, give an early-morning sample coughed up from deep in the chest; staff will explain how to collect other samples.
- In fertility careGenital tuberculosis is a known cause of blocked tubes and a thin uterine lining in India, so doctors may test for TB during an infertility work-up.
How the test is done
- 1Staff explain which sample is needed, such as sputum or urine
- 2For sputum, rinse your mouth with water and cough deeply from your chest
- 3Spit the sample into the sterile container and close it
- 4The lab runs a cartridge test for TB DNA and rifampicin resistance
What your results can mean
Reading your report
A detected result usually confirms TB, but a not-detected result does not always rule it out outside the lungs; discuss it with your doctor.
If the result is outside the usual range
A detected result usually confirms tuberculosis, and the report shows whether rifampicin resistance was found. Not detected does not always rule out TB, especially outside the lungs or in genital TB.
Who usually has this test
People with cough for more than two weeks, fever, weight loss or night sweats, and some women with blocked tubes or a thin endometrium.
Risks and aftercare
Giving a sputum or urine sample has no risks; aftercare for other samples depends on how they were taken.
Names and options
Also called: GeneXpert, CBNAAT, TB test, Xpert MTB/RIF, TB NAAT
Options
- Sputum
- Urine
- CSF
- Body fluid
- Semen
Listed by the hospital as
- GENE XPERT MTB/RIF, CSF
- GENE XPERT MTB/RIF, FLUID
- GENE XPERT MTB/RIF, SEMEN
- GENE XPERT MTB/RIF, SPUTUM
- GENE XPERT MTB/RIF, URINE
Questions about this test
What is CBNAAT?
CBNAAT stands for cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test. It is the common name in India for the GeneXpert TB test.
Can GeneXpert be done on an endometrial sample?
Yes, it can be run on endometrial tissue when genital TB is suspected. A negative result does not fully rule it out, so doctors may add culture and biopsy findings.
What does rifampicin resistance mean?
It means the TB may not respond to rifampicin, a key TB medicine. Your doctor will arrange more tests and a different treatment plan.
Related tests
Tamara Hospital & IVF Centre, Rajajinagar
34/3, 10th Cross Road, opp. Vardhaka Sardar Patel School, 1st N Block, 2nd Stage, Rajajinagar, Bengaluru 560010
The hospital is open 24 hours. Call before you come to check the timing for your scan or sample collection.
Get directions ↗IVF Pulse fertility care at Tamara Hospital →
Reception
Waiting area
IVF lab
This page explains each test in general terms so you know what to expect. It is not medical advice: your doctor decides which tests you need and what your results mean. Reference ranges differ between laboratories. Updated 4 November 2026.