title: Comparison of QuantiFERON-TB gold in-tube test with tuberculin skin test in children who had no contact with active tuberculosis case.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In this study, we aimed to compare QuantiFERON-TB gold in-tube test (QFT-GIT) and tuberculin skin test (TST) as a diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection in the children with Bacille Calmette-Guerin (BCG) vaccine.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated 81 children in the study who have positive TST result without a known history of tuberculosis contact from 2008 to 2011 prospectively. Patients were separated into groups according to their ages, the reason of TST application, number of BCG vaccination scars and diameter of TST induration. Posteroanterior, lateral chest radiographies and computerized tomography, if necessary, were performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study consists of 48 (59.3%) boys and 33 (40.7%) girls with a mean age of 94.8 ± 51.9 months (ranged from 6 to 193 months). Sixty nine (85.2%) children had one and 12 (14.8%) had two BCG vaccination scars. The TST induration diameters were 15-19 mm in 65 (80.2%) children and ≥ 20 mm in 16 (19.8%) children. QFT-GIT positivity was found in 12 (14.8%) of the evaluated patients. QFT-GIT positive patients were treated with triple anti-tuberculosis regime or isoniazid (INH). In three years period of study, there were no tuberculosis disease observed among the children who had not been treated with anti-tuberculosis drugs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  As a result of the study it is suggested to confirm positive TST results with tests based on interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) because it can reduce false positive diagnosis and treatment of latent tuberculosis infection, thus adverse reactions of drugs, in countries where BCG vaccination is routinely recommended especially for low risk children.
authors.affiliation: Clinic of Infectious Diseases, Dr. Sami Ulus Maternity and Children Health and Diseases Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. drozgemetintimur@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Özge
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Metin Timur
authors.forename: Gönül
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tanir
authors.forename: Fatma Nur
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Öz
authors.forename: Gülsüm İclal
authors.initials: Gİ
authors.lastname: Bayhan
authors.forename: Türkan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aydin Teke
authors.forename: Nilden
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tuygun
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D005260:Female; D006046:Gold; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D059425:Interferon-gamma Release Tests; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D055985:Latent Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy; D008297:Male; D014374:Tuberculin Test
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D001500:BCG Vaccine; D006046:Gold; D007538:Isoniazid