title: Low sensitivity of a whole-blood interferon-gamma release assay for detection of active tuberculosis.
abstract: The sensitivity of an interferon-gamma assay (Quantiferon-TB Gold; Cellestis) was evaluated for the detection of tuberculosis among 242 persons with suspected tuberculosis in San Francisco, California. Thirty-seven subjects had culture-confirmed tuberculosis. Excluding 1 indeterminate result, 23 (64%; 95% confidence interval, 48%-78%) of 36 subjects had positive results using the QuantiFERON-TB Gold assay. The 64% sensitivity suggests that the QuantiFERON-TB Gold assay should not be used alone to exclude active tuberculosis.
authors.affiliation: International Research and Programs Branch, Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, National Center for HIV, STD, and TB Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA. pdewan@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Puneet K
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Dewan
authors.forename: Jennifer
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Grinsdale
authors.forename: L Masae
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Kawamura
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000276:immunology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D012495:San Francisco; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D011933:Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; D007371:Interferon-gamma