title: Performance of a T-cell-based diagnostic test for tuberculosis infection in HIV-infected individuals is independent of CD4 cell count.
abstract: The performance characteristics of the enzyme-linked immunospot assay (ELISPOT) assay (T-SPOT TB) for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection in HIV-infected individuals are unknown. Given that ELISPOT enumerates Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigen-specific IFN-gamma-secreting T cells, HIV-associated immunosuppression might adversely affect test performance. However, we found that 28 out of 29 HIV-positive individuals (97%) gave evaluable test results, and performance was independent of the CD4 T-cell count. ELISPOT test performance appears to be independent of HIV-associated immunosuppression.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Infectious Diseases and International Health, Department of Population Sciences and Primary Care, Royal Free and University College Medical School, University College London, London, UK.
authors.forename: Keertan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dheda
authors.forename: Ajit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lalvani
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Miller
authors.forename: Geoff
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Scott
authors.forename: Helen
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Booth
authors.forename: Margaret A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: Alimuddin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zumla
authors.forename: Graham Aw
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Rook
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017252:CD3 Complex / Q000276:immunology; D018791:CD4 Lymphocyte Count; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000379:methods; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007108:Immune Tolerance / Q000276:immunology; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000276:immunology; D007376:Interleukin-2 / Q000276:immunology; D015847:Interleukin-4 / Q000276:immunology; D018655:Lymphocyte Count; D008297:Male; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins / Q000276:immunology; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000097:blood; D012367:RNA, Viral / Q000097:blood; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D017252:CD3 Complex; D007376:Interleukin-2; D010835:Phytohemagglutinins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D012367:RNA, Viral; D015847:Interleukin-4; D007371:Interferon-gamma