Low sensitivity of a whole-blood interferon-gamma release assay for detection of active tuberculosis

Clin Infect Dis. 2007 Jan 1;44(1):69-73. doi: 10.1086/509928. Epub 2006 Nov 28.

Abstract

The sensitivity of an interferon-gamma assay (Quantiferon-TB Gold; Cellestis) was evaluated for the detection of tuberculosis among 242 persons with suspected tuberculosis in San Francisco, California. Thirty-seven subjects had culture-confirmed tuberculosis. Excluding 1 indeterminate result, 23 (64%; 95% confidence interval, 48%-78%) of 36 subjects had positive results using the QuantiFERON-TB Gold assay. The 64% sensitivity suggests that the QuantiFERON-TB Gold assay should not be used alone to exclude active tuberculosis.

Publication types

  • Evaluation Study

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • False Negative Reactions
  • Humans
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Interferon-gamma / blood*
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic*
  • San Francisco
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tuberculin Test
  • Tuberculosis / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis / immunology
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / diagnosis
  • Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / immunology

Substances

  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
  • Interferon-gamma