Can Interferon-Gamma Release Assays be helpful for the diagnosis of pulmonary and extrapulmonary tuberculosis?

The diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis and tuberculous pleurisy standard methods is difficult and slow. Now, high hopes to cells of T cells secreting interferon-gamma in response to antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Use of the immune response to TB diagnosis. A systematic review was performed of latest publications. Interferon-γ release assays (IGRA) on peripheral blood mononuclear cells cannot distinguish active from latent tuberculosis infection. But detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific T-cells in the bronchoalveolar lavage or pleural effusion using IGRA (ELISPOT assay) is a promising tool for the diagnosis of active pulmonary or extrapulmonary tuberculosis in patients with negative acid-fast bacilli smears and suspected tuberculosis patients. In TB, antigen-specific T-cells expand and are recruited to the site of infection. Positive T-SPOT.TB performed in BALf and another fluid could be helpful in rapid TB diagnosis. At present, there is little research. Further studies are needed to confirm the usefulness of IGRA to detect active TB.