scholarly journals Interferon-Gamma Release Assays Are a Better Tuberculosis Screening Test for Hemodialysis Patients: A Study and Review of the Literature

2012 ◽  
Vol 23 (3) ◽  
pp. 114-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
J Grant ◽  
J Jastrzebski ◽  
J Johnston ◽  
A Stefanovic ◽  
J Jastrabesky ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Interferon Gamma ◽  
Skin Testing ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis ◽  
Poor Response ◽  
Tuberculin Skin Testing ◽  
Dialysis Patients ◽  
Tuberculosis Screening ◽  
Dialysis Unit ◽  
Interferon Gamma Release Assays ◽  
History Of

Diagnosing latent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI) in dialysis patients is complicated by poor response to tuberculin skin testing (TST), but the role of interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) in the dialysis population remains uncertain. Seventy-nine patients were recruited to compare conventional diagnosis (CD) with the results of two IGRA tests in a dialysis unit. Combining TST, chest x-ray and screening questionnaire results (ie, CD) identified 24 patients as possible LTBI. IGRA testing identified 22 (QuantiFERON Gold IT, Cellestis, USA) and 23 (T-spot.TB, Oxford Immunotec, United Kingdom) LTBI patients. IGRA and CD correlated moderately (κ=0.59). IGRA results correlated with history of TB, TB contact and birth in an endemic country. TST was not helpful in identifying LTBI patients in this population. The tendency for IGRAs to correlate with risk factors for TB, active TB infection and history of TB argues for their superiority over TST in dialysis patients. There was no superiority of one IGRA test over another.

scholarly journals Interferon-Gamma Release Assays versus Tuberculin Skin Testing for the Diagnosis of Latent Tuberculosis Infection: An Overview of the Evidence

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Trajman ◽  
R. E. Steffen ◽  
D. Menzies
Keyword(s):  
Tuberculin Skin Test ◽  
Skin Test ◽  
Interferon Gamma ◽  
Clinical Evidence ◽  
Skin Testing ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis ◽  
Preventive Therapy ◽  
Tuberculin Skin Testing ◽  
Interferon Gamma Release Assays ◽  
Definition Of

A profusion of articles have been published on the accuracy and uses of interferon-gamma releasing assays. Here we review the clinical applications, advantages, and limitations of the tuberculin skin test and interferon-gamma release assays and provide an overview of the most recent systematic reviews conducted for different indications for the use of these tests. We conclude that both tests are accurate to detect latent tuberculosis, although interferon-gamma release assays have higher specificity than tuberculin skin testing in BCG-vaccinated populations, particularly if BCG is received after infancy. However, both tests perform poorly to predict risk for progression to active tuberculosis. Interferon-gamma release assays have significant limitations in serial testing because of spontaneous variability and lack of a validated definition of conversion and reversion, making it difficult for clinicians to interpret changes in category (conversions and reversions). So far, the most important clinical evidence, that is, that isoniazid preventive therapy reduces the risk for progression to disease, has been produced only in tuberculin skin test-positive individuals.

scholarly journals Tuberculin Skin Testing and Treatment Modulates Interferon-Gamma Release Assay Results for Latent Tuberculosis in Migrants

PLoS ONE ◽  
2014 ◽  
Vol 9 (5) ◽  
pp. e97366 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew K. O'Shea ◽  
Thomas E. Fletcher ◽  
Nicholas J. Beeching ◽  
Martin Dedicoat ◽  
David Spence ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Interferon Gamma ◽  
Skin Testing ◽  
Latent Tuberculosis ◽  
Interferon Gamma Release Assay ◽  
Tuberculin Skin Testing ◽  
Release Assay
Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document