title: Interferon-gamma release assays.
abstract: Diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) should be targeted toward individuals and groups with high risk of progression to active tuberculosis (TB). Low-risk populations should not be screened. Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) perform as well or better than the tuberculin skin test in most targeted populations. IGRAs are preferred for bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG)-vaccinated populations. A positive IGRA in a person at low risk for TB exposure should be confirmed with a repeat test or another method before recommending LTBI treatment. The choice of which IGRA to use is generally based on the costs and feasibility of performing the test.
authors.affiliation: Denver Public Health Department, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 605 Bannock Street, Denver, CO 80204, USA. Electronic address: robert.belknap@dhha.org.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Belknap
authors.affiliation: National Jewish Health, University of Colorado School of Medicine, 1400 Jackson Street, Denver, CO 80206, USA.
authors.forename: Charles L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Daley
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D059425:Interferon-gamma Release Tests; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology
keywords: Interferon-gamma release assays; Latent tuberculosis infection; QuantiFERON; T-SPOT; Tuberculin skin test; Tuberculosis