title: Whole blood interferon-γ release assay is a useful tool for the diagnosis of tuberculosis infection particularly among Bacille Calmette Guèrin-vaccinated children.
abstract: The performance of QuantiFERON-tuberculosis (TB) Gold-In-Tube assay was compared with the tuberculin skin test for the diagnosis of TB among children. It was shown that among non-Bacille Calmette Guèrin immunized children, agreement between tests was excellent both in those with TB disease and in TB contacts. Among Bacille Calmette Guèrin-immunized children, agreement was fair in those with active disease and poor among TB contacts. It is concluded that QuantiFERON-TB Gold-In-Tube compares with the tuberculin skin test in the diagnosis of TB disease and latent tuberculosis infection in TB contacts among children and has enhanced specificity.
authors.affiliation: Second Department of Pediatrics, P and A Kyriakou Children's Hospital, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens School of Medicine, Athens, Greece. matsolia@ath.forthnet.gr
authors.forename: Maria N
authors.initials: MN
authors.lastname: Tsolia
authors.forename: Mersini
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mavrikou
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Critselis
authors.forename: Nikolaos G
authors.initials: NG
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.forename: Haidoniki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Makrinioti
authors.forename: Nikolaos P
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Spyridis
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Metsou
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tsagaraki
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Koulouri
authors.forename: Dimitrios A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Kafetzis
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000276:immunology*; D001769:Blood / Q000276:immunology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000378:metabolism*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis*
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine; D007371:Interferon-gamma