title: Acceptability of interferon-gamma release assays among healthcare workers who receive routine employee tuberculosis testing.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Healthcare workers (HCWs) undergo annual testing for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI).
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  Compare acceptability of tuberculin skin test (TST) and interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) among HCWs.
  
  
  METHODS
  HCWs at four medical centers in the US were administered an acceptability questionnaire including a brief objective description of both tests and eliciting attitudes regarding TST and IGRAs, confidence in results, and likelihood of taking LTBI treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 406 participants, 75% had never heard of IGRAs. IGRAs were preferred to TST. Belief in accuracy of hypothetical positive results of TST or IGRA and willingness to accept LTBI treatment were similar across tests. When presented with hypothetical discordant results, HCWs expressed more confidence in IGRAs. Perceived accuracy of results was the most important factor in test preferences.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although HCWs preferred and indicated more confidence in IGRAs, the likelihood that HCWs would believe LTBI diagnosis and initiate treatment based on positive results was similar for TST and IGRAs.
authors.affiliation: Charles P. Felton National Tuberculosis Center, ICAP, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA. yh154@columbia.edu
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirsch-Moverman
authors.affiliation: Denver Public Health & Hospitals Authority, Denver, CO, USA.
authors.forename: Kirsten
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Wall
authors.affiliation: Westat, Rockville, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Weinfurter
authors.affiliation: John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA.
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Munk
authors.affiliation: Charles P. Felton National Tuberculosis Center, ICAP, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Joyce Ann
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Moran
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Allison
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Maiuris
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Amera
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
authors.forename: Nichlas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: DeLuca
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, USA.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D059425:Interferon-gamma Release Tests; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D057240:Patient Preference; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014374:Tuberculin Test / Q000379:methods*; D014481:United States