Considerable effort has been devoted to improving the existing diagnostic tests for bovine tuberculosis (single intradermal comparative tuberculin test [SICTT] and γ-interferon assay [γ-IFN]) and to develop new tests. Previously, the diagnostic characteristics (sensitivity, specificity) have been estimated in populations with defined infection status. However, these approaches can be problemati...

BACKGROUND There are limited data comparing the performance of the two commercially available interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) release assays (IGRAs) for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) in children. We compared QuantiFERON-TB gold In Tube (QFT-IT), T-SPOT.TB and the tuberculin skin test (TST) in children at risk for latent TB infection or TB disease. METHODS AND FINDINGS The results of both IG...

solution available in clinical settings, especially when current Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines state that only solutions of PPD containing 5 TU/0.1 mL should be used.1 We have discontinued the 250 TU formulation in our institution. We urge caution in the interpretation of tuberculin tests and suggest careful examination of the strength of the solution before administration.

Although the tuberculin skin test has long been the standard for detecting latent tuberculosis infection, it has many limitations. Interferon-gamma-release assays are gaining acceptance as an alternative. In this paper we present cases to illustrate how these new tests can be used and how to interpret the results.

Since persons with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) represent a huge reservoir of potential tuberculosis (TB) disease, accurate diagnosis and treatment of LTBI is essential for TB control and eradication. The aim was to assess the diagnostic value of determination of interferon-gamma release assay in school children with hyperreactive tuberculin skin test (TST) reaction. A total of 120 BCG-...

BACKGROUND QuantiFERONTB Gold (QFT) is a promising blood test for tuberculosis infection but with few data so far from immigrant screening. The aim of this study was to compare results of QFT and tuberculin skin test (TST) among newly arrived asylum seekers in Norway and to assess the role of QFT in routine diagnostic screening for latent tuberculosis infection. METHODS The 1000 asylum seeker...

Understanding the epidemiology and clinical course of tuberculosis is hampered by the absence of a perfect test for latent tuberculosis infection. The tuberculin skin test (TST) is widely used but suffers poor specificity in those receiving the bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccine and poor sensitivity in individuals with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections. TST responses for a target popul...

BACKGROUND Estimation of the frequency of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is difficult in areas with low tuberculosis infection rates and high exposure to non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM), including BCG vaccination. The objective was to assess LTBI and M avium infection and to estimate their probability based on skin tests responses in an infant population from a region with the aforemen...

BACKGROUND Reexamining the prevalence of persons infected with tuberculosis (TB) is important to determine trends over time. In 2011-2012 a TB component was included in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) to estimate the reservoir of persons infected with TB. METHODS Civilian, noninstitutionalized U.S. population survey participants aged 6 years and older were interv...

BACKGROUND The accurate diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is an important component of any tuberculosis control programme and depends largely on tuberculin skin testing. The appropriate interpretation of skin test results requires knowledge of the possible confounding factors such as previous BCG vaccination. Uncertainty about the effect of BCG vaccination on tuberculin skin tes...