Interferon-gamma release assays have potentially been transformative to screening programs focused on latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in foreign-born persons. We sought to add to this assessment by presenting the impact of a well-established refugee screening and treatment program switching from skin testing to Quantiferon®-TB Gold (QFT). We completed a retrospective cohort of refugees screened for tuberculosis between November 1, 2009–April 30, 2011 (pre-QFT) and May 1, 2011–October 31, 2012 (post-QFT). Among 2244 refugees screened that met the inclusion criteria, there was a significant difference in the proportion of refugees diagnosed with LTBI between the two time periods (p = <0.0001). In multivariate analysis, refugees tested with QFT had a greater odds of treatment initiation (adjusted odds ratio 1.53; 95 % CI 1.02–2.29, p = 0.040). However, test type had no impact on treatment completion (odds ratio 0.88; 95 % CI 0.57–1.36, p = 0.560). Although we demonstrated increased efficiency in LTBI diagnosis in this group, treatment completion rates indicate other barriers to treatment that must be addressed. © 2015, Springer Science+Business Media New York.

Treatment initiation tuberculosis Diagnosis Latent tuberculosis Treatment completion Refugee

refugee mass screening sex ratio human risk assessment Refugees middle aged Odds Ratio Cohort Studies statistics and numerical data interferon gamma release assay Interferon-gamma Release Tests Logistic Models procedures Young Adult Humans Adolescent male latent tuberculosis female pilot study Multivariate Analysis communicable disease control prevalence organization and management Retrospective Studies adult Sex Distribution age distribution cohort analysis statistical model retrospective study Oregon Pilot Projects public health Child