title: Interferon-gamma release assay sensitivity in children younger than 5 years is insufficient to replace the use of tuberculin skin test in western countries.
abstract: Tuberculin skin test, QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube and T-SPOT.TB were performed in 338 children at risk for tuberculosis (TB), including 70 active TB cases. In children <5 years of age, QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube sensitivity was 73.3% [95% confidence interval (CI): 57.5-89.1]; and T-SPOT.TB sensitivity was 59.3% (95% CI: 40.1-77.8); both were inferior to tuberculin skin test sensitivity (90.0%; 95% CI: 79.3-100). In children ≥ 5 years QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube sensitivity was 92.5% (95% CI: 84.4-100); T-SPOT.TB sensitivity was 73.0% (95% CI: 58.6-87.3) ; and tuberculin skin test sensitivity was 97.5% (95% CI: 92.6-100).Test specificities were similar in all age groups.
authors.affiliation: From the *Department of Health Sciences, Anna Meyer Children's University Hospital, and †Immunology Unit and Laboratory, Meyer Children's University Hospital of Florence, Florence, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chiappini
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bonsignori
authors.forename: Rachele
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Mazzantini
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sollai
authors.forename: Elisabetta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Venturini
authors.forename: Giusi
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mangone
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cortimiglia
authors.forename: Biagio
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Olivito
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Azzari
authors.forename: Luisa
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Galli
authors.forename: Maurizio
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Martino
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D059425:Interferon-gamma Release Tests / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012882:Skin Tests / Q000379:methods; D014374:Tuberculin Test / Q000379:methods*; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis*