title: Utility of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube assay for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in Moroccan children.
abstract: The utility of interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs), such as the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) test, in diagnosing active tuberculosis (TB) in children is unclear and depends on the epidemiological setting.
  
  
  
  To evaluate the performance of QFT-GIT for TB diagnosis in children living in Morocco, an intermediate TB incidence country with high bacille Calmette-Gurin vaccination coverage.
  
  
  
  We prospectively recruited 109 Moroccan children hospitalised for clinically suspected TB, all of whom were tested using QFT-GIT.
  
  
  
  For 81 of the 109 children, the final diagnosis was TB. The remaining 28 children did not have TB. QFT-GIT had a sensitivity of 66% (95%CI 5277) for the diagnosis of TB, and a specificity of 100% (95%CI 88100). The tuberculin skin test (TST) had lower sensitivity, at 46% (95%CI 3360), and its concordance with QFT-GIT was limited (69%). Combining QFT-GIT and TST results increased sensitivity to 83% (95%CI 6992).
  
  
  
  In epidemiological settings such as those found in Morocco, QFT-GIT is more sensitive than the TST for active TB diagnosis in children. Combining the TST and QFT-GIT would be useful for the diagnosis of active TB in children, in combination with clinical, radiological and laboratory data.
authors.affiliation: Genetics Unit, Mohammed V Military Hospital, Rabat, Faculty of ScienceKenitra IbnTofail University, Kenitra.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: El Azbaoui
authors.affiliation: Genetics Unit, Mohammed V Military Hospital, Rabat, Faculty of ScienceKenitra IbnTofail University, Kenitra.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sabri
authors.affiliation: Ear, Nose, Throat Department, Head and Neck Surgery, Medical and Pharmacy School of Rabat, Mohammed V Military Hospital, University of Mohammed V, Rabat.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ouraini
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Mohammed V Military Hospital, Medical and Pharmacy School of Rabat, University of Mohammed V, Rabat.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hassani
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Rabat Childrens Hospital, Rabat.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Asermouh
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Mohammed V Military Hospital, Medical and Pharmacy School of Rabat, University of Mohammed V, Rabat.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agadr
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Mohammed V Military Hospital, Medical and Pharmacy School of Rabat, University of Mohammed V, Rabat.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Abilkassem
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Mohammed V Military Hospital, Medical and Pharmacy School of Rabat, University of Mohammed V, Rabat.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Dini
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, Mohammed V Military Hospital.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kmari
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosurgery, Avicenne Military Hospital, Marrakech, University of Mohammed V Souissi, Rabat.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Akhaddar
authors.affiliation: Genetics Unit, Mohammed V Military Hospital, Rabat, Faculty of Sciences of Rabat, University of Mohammed V, Rabat.
authors.forename: Z
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Laktati
authors.affiliation: Genetics Unit, Mohammed V Military Hospital, Rabat, Faculty of Sciences of Rabat, University of Mohammed V, Rabat.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aieche
authors.affiliation: Medical and Pharmacy School of Rabat, University of Mohammed V, Rabat, Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Rabat Childrens Hospital, Rabat.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: El Hafidi
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Rabat Childrens Hospital, Rabat.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ben Brahim
authors.affiliation: Clinical Immunology Unit, Casablanca Childrens Hospital, Ibn Rochd Medical School.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Bousfiha
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatric Infectious Diseases, Ibn Rochd Hospital University Centre, King Hassan II University, Casablanca, Morocco.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ailal
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Necker Branch, Institut National de la Sant et de la Recherche Mdicale Unit 1163, Paris, Imagine Institute, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Deswarte
authors.affiliation: McGill Centre for the Study of Host Resistance, The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Schurr
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Necker Branch, Institut National de la Sant et de la Recherche Mdicale Unit 1163, Paris, Imagine Institute, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Amar
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Necker Branch, Institut National de la Sant et de la Recherche Mdicale Unit 1163, Paris, Imagine Institute, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France, Center for the Study of Primary Immunodeficiencies, Assistance Publique-Hpitaux de Paris (AP-HP), Necker Hospital, Paris, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bustamante
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Necker Branch, Institut National de la Sant et de la Recherche Mdicale Unit 1163, Paris, Imagine Institute, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Boisson-Dupuis
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Necker Branch, Institut National de la Sant et de la Recherche Mdicale Unit 1163, Paris, Imagine Institute, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France, St Giles Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Rockefeller Branch, The Rockefeller University, New York, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, New York, New York, USA, Paediatric Haematology-Immunology Unit, AP-HP, Necker Hospital, Paris, France.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Casanova
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Necker Branch, Institut National de la Sant et de la Recherche Mdicale Unit 1163, Paris, Imagine Institute, Paris Descartes University, Paris, France, St Giles Laboratory of Human Genetics of Infectious Diseases, Rockefeller Branch, The Rockefeller University, New York.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Abel
authors.affiliation: Genetics Unit, Mohammed V Military Hospital, Rabat.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: El Baghdadi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001500:BCG Vaccine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D059425:Interferon-gamma Release Tests; D009018:Morocco / Q000453:epidemiology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014611:Vaccination
chemical_list: D001500:BCG Vaccine