American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene
Volume 80, Issue 4, 2009, Pages 628-633

Serial testing of refugees for latent tuberculosis using the quantiFERON-gold In-tube: Effects of an antecedent tuberculin skin test (Article)

Baker C.A. , Thomas W. , Stauffer W.M. , Peterson P.K. , Tsukayama D.T.
  • a Infectious Diseases and International Medicine Division, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States, Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
  • b Infectious Diseases and International Medicine Division, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States, Division of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
  • c Infectious Diseases and International Medicine Division, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
  • d Infectious Diseases and International Medicine Division, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States
  • e Infectious Diseases and International Medicine Division, University of Minnesota, 420 Delaware St. SE, Minneapolis, MN 55455, United States

Abstract

Screening for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in refugee populations immigrating to low-incidence countries remains a challenge. We assessed the characteristics of the QuantiFERON-Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) compared with the tuberculin skin test (TST) in 198 refugees of all ages from tuberculosis-endemic countries. Diagnostic agreement between the first QFT-GIT and simultaneous TST was 78% (κ = 0.56) and between serial QFT-GITs was 89% (κ = 0.76). In serial QFT-GIT testing, 70% of subjects had an increased QFT-GIT value, perhaps the result of an antecedent TST in the setting of previous TB exposure. This boosting seemed to become less prevalent with time from TST and occurred less frequently in those with negative first QFT-GIT readings. Despite small changes in the quantitative results caused by nonspecific variation and boosting, the diagnostic result of the QFT-GIT was reliable. The QFT-GIT shows the potential to replace the TST for LTBI screening in refugees from tuberculosis-endemic areas. Copyright © 2009 by The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

evaluation Russia China prospective study refugee Prospective Studies human Refugees diagnostic accuracy controlled study Ukraine screening test intermethod comparison screening United States Microbiological Techniques Humans diagnostic value Adolescent male female tuberculosis reproducibility Africa Reproducibility of Results diagnostic test high risk population gamma interferon sensitivity and specificity Article major clinical study tuberculin test adult microbiological examination endemic disease population exposure Russian Federation cytokine release
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-65349152438&partnerID=40&md5=3855be08a64997a5c54b16a7cb4cd47b
ISSN: 00029637
Cited by: 28
Original Language: English