QuantiFERON-TB gold assay for tuberculosis infection
2007; Elsevier BV; Volume: 29; Issue: 17 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1016/j.clinmicnews.2007.08.001
ISSN1873-4391
AutoresAlton B. Farris, John A. Branda,
Tópico(s)Mycobacterium research and diagnosis
ResumoLatent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections can be difficult to diagnose, and diagnosis has formerly relied primarily on the tuberculin skin test (TST), an in vivo assay with inherent limitations. Recently, in vitro gamma interferon (IFN-γ) release assays have been developed that measure IFN-γ after stimulation with tuberculosis (TB) antigens such as PPD, CFP-10, and ESAT-6. The QuantiFERON-TB GOLD test (QFT-G) was the first such assay to garner U.S. Food and Drug Administration clearance. Potential uses of the QFT-G include screening for latent TB, testing for active TB infection, and confirmation of a positive or intermediate PPD test. The advantages of QFT-G over the TST include potentially easier follow-up and more objective test administration and measurement; however, multiple clinical studies have shown that the QFT-G has its own limitations, such as indeterminate results in immunocompromised patients (e.g., HIV and chemotherapy patients), sensitivity and specificity concerns, and the requisite infrastructure to collect and analyze specimens. Implementation of "in tube" QFT-G and T-SPOT TB assays may offer further promise over the QFT-G.
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