Impact of a T cell-based blood test for tuberculosis infection on clinical decision-making in routine practice.
New T cell-based blood tests for tuberculosis infection could improve diagnosis of tuberculosis but their clinical utility remains unknown. We describe the role of the ELISpot test in the diagnostic work-up of 13 patients presenting with suspected tuberculosis in routine practice. Of the seven patients with a final diagnosis of active tuberculosis, all were positive by ELISpot including three with false-negative tuberculin skin test results. Rapid determination of tuberculosis infection by ELISpot accelerated the diagnosis of tuberculosis, enabling early treatment initiation.
Gooding
Sarah
S
Tuberculosis Immunology Group, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK.
Chowdhury
Oni
O
Hinks
Tim
T
Richeldi
Luca
L
Losi
Monica
M
Ewer
Katie
K
Millington
Kerry
K
Gunatheesan
Ruba
R
Cerri
Stefania
S
McNally
Jeremy
J
Lalvani
Ajit
A
D000368:Aged; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005260:Female; D006403:Hematologic Tests; D006801:Humans; D007118:Immunoassay / Q000379:methods*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013601:T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis*