title: Evaluation of an in vitro assay for interferon gamma production in response to the Mycobacterium tuberculosis-synthesized peptide antigens ESAT-6 and CFP-10 and the PPD skin test.
abstract: We compared the tuberculin skin test (TST) to QuantiFERON-TB (QFT) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT-G) for the detection of latent tuberculosis. The QFT-G uses synthesized early secretory antigenic target 6 and culture filtrate protein 10 peptide antigens instead of purified protein derivative (PPD) antigens. The study included 137 adults in 3 groups: 1 (n = 81), at low risk for Mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) and not vaccinated for Mycobacterium bovis bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG); 2 (n = 30), probably had TB exposure and were BCG vaccinated; and 3 (n = 26), at low risk for TB, not BCG vaccinated, but previously had a positive TST result. Positive results were as follows: group 1: TST 3 (3.7%); QFT 9 (11.1%); and QFT-G, 0 (0.0%); group 2: TST 26 (86.7%); QFT, 15 (50.0%); and QFT-G, 5 (16. 7%); and group 3: TST, 26 (100.0%); QFT, 13 (50.0%); and QFT-G, 9 (34.6%). The QFT-G demonstrated less cross-reactivity with BCG antigen and was more specific than QFT and TST in low-risk individuals.
authors.affiliation: Associated Regional and University Pathologists Institute for Clinical and Experimental Pathology, Salt Lake City, UT 84108, USA.
authors.forename: Edward W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Taggart
authors.forename: Harry R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Roland G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Ruegner
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Litwin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008297:Male; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D012882:Skin Tests; D014373:Tuberculin / Q000276:immunology*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; C117940:CFP-10 protein, Mycobacterium tuberculosis; C093276:ESAT-6 protein, Mycobacterium tuberculosis; D014373:Tuberculin; D007371:Interferon-gamma