Prospective comparison of tuberculin skin test and QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube assay for the detection of latent tuberculosis infection among healthcare workers in a low-incidence setting

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2009 Nov;30(11):1123-6. doi: 10.1086/644754.

Abstract

We compared the results of the tuberculin skin test with the results of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) assay among 182 low-risk healthcare workers. Overall agreement and specificity were high, but the tests did not agree on positive results. Only 2 of 5 positive QFT-GIT assay results could be confirmed with repeat analyses. Indeterminate results were associated with potential immunosuppression.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural

MeSH terms

  • Health Personnel*
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Interferon-gamma / blood*
  • Latent Tuberculosis / diagnosis*
  • Latent Tuberculosis / epidemiology
  • Latent Tuberculosis / microbiology
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology*
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tuberculin Test / methods*

Substances

  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
  • Interferon-gamma