Reproducibility of QuantiFERON-TB gold in-tube assay

Clin Vaccine Immunol. 2008 Mar;15(3):425-32. doi: 10.1128/CVI.00398-07. Epub 2008 Jan 16.

Abstract

Studies are needed to characterize the reproducibility of QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT-G) for targeted U.S. screening populations. Members of northern California households were tested with the QFT-G in-tube assay (QFT-G-IT) at two home visits 3 months apart. Reproducibility and agreement with the tuberculin skin test (TST) were assessed. Monte Carlo simulation was used to evaluate the role of test-related error. Of 63 individuals (49 adults and 14 children) completing QFT-G-IT at both time points, 79% were foreign-born (98% from Latin America) and 68% reported Mycobacterium bovis BCG vaccination. At the baseline visit, 23 (37%) were TST positive and 15 (24%) were QFT-G-IT positive (kappa = 0.48 [+/- 0.11]). At 3 months, 3/48 (6.3%; 95% confidence interval [95CI], 2 to 17) of those initially QFT-G-IT negative converted, and 5/15 (33%; 95CI, 15 to 58) of those initially QFT-G-IT positive reverted. Among the 8 individuals with inconsistent QFT-G-IT results, the maximum gamma interferon response at either visit was 0.68 IU/ml versus means of 4.99 (+/- 3.74) and 6.95 (+/- 5.6) for 10 persistent positives at the first and second visits, respectively. Expected false-reversion and -conversion rates were 32% (90CI, 25 to 39%) and 6.95% (90CI, 4.6 to 9.8%) when the sensitivity and specificity were assumed to average 70% and 98%, respectively. Transient responses to QFT-G-IT are common, and low positive results need to be interpreted with caution. Further studies are needed to characterize the predictive value of the test for U.S. foreign-born and other targeted screening populations.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Emigration and Immigration*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoassay*
  • Interferon-gamma / blood*
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / methods
  • Middle Aged
  • Monte Carlo Method
  • Prevalence
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology
  • T-Lymphocytes / metabolism
  • Tuberculin Test
  • Tuberculosis / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis / epidemiology
  • United States / epidemiology

Substances

  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
  • Interferon-gamma