Utility of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube Test in the Diagnosis of Latent TB in HIV-Positive Patients in a Medium-TB Burden Country

J Int Assoc Provid AIDS Care. 2016 Mar-Apr;15(2):101-6. doi: 10.1177/2325957415614645. Epub 2015 Oct 29.

Abstract

Background: The authors aimed to compare TST with QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT) for detecting latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in HIV-infected patients in Iran as a TB-medium endemic country.

Methods: In a cross-sectional design,130 HIV-positive patients in HIV clinic of Tehran University were studied. Patients screened for LTBI with QFT and TST simultaneously. Concordance between 2 tests results and variables associated with tests discordance were assessed.

Results: Positive results found in 24.6% for TST and 7.7% for QFT. Overall agreement between them was 73.85% (Kappa = 0.083). History of imprisonment was associated with more positive TST (P = 0.014) and QFT (P = 0.01). Patients with intravenous drug use (IDU) history had significant discordant results (0.018).

Conclusion: The authors recommend QFT for all negative cases of TST in HIV-positive patients especially who had history of IDU.

Keywords: HIV; QuantiFERON; diagnosis; latent tuberculosis; tuberculosis.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • HIV Infections / complications*
  • Humans
  • Iran
  • Latent Tuberculosis / diagnosis*
  • Latent Tuberculosis / etiology
  • Latent Tuberculosis / microbiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium / isolation & purification
  • Tuberculin Test / instrumentation
  • Tuberculin Test / methods*
  • Young Adult