Recent advances in testing for latent TB.
After more than a century of relying on skin testing for the diagnosis of latent TB infection, clinicians now have access to blood-based diagnostics in the form of interferon γ release assays (IGRAs). These tests are generally associated with higher sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis of latent TB infection. This article reviews the indications for testing and treatment of latent TB infection in the overall context of a TB control program and describes how IGRAs might be used in specific clinical settings and populations, including people having close contact with an active case of TB, the foreign born, and health-care workers.
Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA. ns311@columbia.edu
Neil W
NW
Schluger
Joseph
J
Burzynski
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000276:immunology; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007159:Immunologic Tests / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends*; D007371:Interferon-gamma / Q000097:blood*; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014374:Tuberculin Test / Q000379:methods / Q000639:trends; D014481:United States
D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D007371:Interferon-gamma