title: Evaluation of an interferon-gamma release assay in children with suspected tuberculosis in Papua New Guinea.
abstract: There are few data from tuberculosis (TB) endemic settings of the performance and outcome predictors of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold in Tube assay (QFT) in children with suspected TB. A prospective cross-sectional study was conducted in Papua New Guinea children with suspected TB evaluated at Port Moresby General Hospital (Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea). Two hundred sixteen children were enrolled including 106 probable TB, 87 possible TB and 23 without TB. Concordance between QFT and tuberculin skin test results was 86% (P < 0.001, κ = 0.70). QFT was significantly more likely to be positive than tuberculin skin test, overall and within the probable or possible TB categories, with no difference in prevalence of positivity between these 2 categories. The role of QFT in supporting the clinical diagnosis of TB in endemic settings, where resources are limited, remains uncertain especially as cost and technical requirements remain considerable.
authors.affiliation: Division of Child Health, Port Moresby General Hospital and School of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Papua New Guinea, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.
authors.forename: Tarcisius
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Uluk
authors.forename: Waridibo E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Allison
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vince
authors.forename: Handan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Wand
authors.forename: Nakapi
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tefuarani
authors.forename: Louise M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Causer
authors.forename: Paulus
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Ripa
authors.forename: Maylene
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kariko
authors.forename: Oscillah
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kaminiel
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cunningham
authors.forename: Steve M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Graham
authors.forename: John M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Kaldor
mesh_terms: D000704:Analysis of Variance; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D059425:Interferon-gamma Release Tests / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D010219:Papua New Guinea / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D014374:Tuberculin Test / Q000379:methods; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology