Evaluation of an in vitro assay for gamma interferon production in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections

Clin Diagn Lab Immunol. 2004 Nov;11(6):1089-93. doi: 10.1128/CDLI.11.6.1089-1093.2004.

Abstract

The tuberculin skin test (TST) is the "gold standard" for detecting infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We compared the TST using purified protein derivative to the QuantiFERON-TB test (QFT). Two groups were examined. Group 1 individuals (n = 66) (low risk) were at low risk for exposure to M. tuberculosis and were not Mycobacterium bovis BCG vaccinated. Group 2 (n = 29) include individuals who were likely to have been exposed to a high prevalence of M. tuberculosis infections and were BCG vaccinated. Group 1 individuals were given a TST. Group 2 individuals were not given a TST because of possible adverse reactions. A 10- to 15-mm indurated area 48 h after TST was considered positive. A positive QFT result was defined as a significant gamma interferon response to M. tuberculosis antigen, Mycobacterium avium antigen, and a nonspecific mitogen stimulus and no response in the negative control. In group 1, 60 of 66 individuals (90.9%) were negative by both methods, and 1 person was positive by both methods. There was one QFT-negative, TST-positive case, one QFT-positive, TST-negative case, and three conditional QFT-positive, TST-negative cases. In group 2, 12 of 29 (41.4%) were positive by QFT and considered likely to be TST positive because of prior BCG vaccination. QFT testing in our low-risk group resulted in an agreement of 96.8%, a sensitivity of 50%, and a specificity of 98.4% compared with TST results. QFT testing with TST in low-risk groups can aid in the detection of latent M. tuberculosis infections.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • BCG Vaccine / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / biosynthesis*
  • Lymphocyte Activation / immunology*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium bovis / immunology
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • Tuberculin / immunology*
  • Tuberculin Test
  • Tuberculosis / diagnosis
  • Tuberculosis / immunology*
  • Tuberculosis / prevention & control

Substances

  • BCG Vaccine
  • Tuberculin
  • Interferon-gamma