The comprehensive evaluation of latent tuberculosis infection in health care workers and of patients with active tuberculosis using TST, ELISA, and ELISPOT methods

Hülya ŞİMŞEK; Sibel Meryem ALPAR; Kurtuluş AKSU; Funda AKSU; İsmail CEYHAN; Salih CESUR; Ayşegül GÖZALAN; Mustafa ERTEK

Article Details

The comprehensive evaluation of latent tuberculosis infection in health care workers and of patients with active tuberculosis using TST, ELISA, and ELISPOT methods

Authors:

Hülya ŞİMŞEK | Sibel Meryem ALPAR | Kurtuluş AKSU | Funda AKSU | İsmail CEYHAN | Salih CESUR | Ayşegül GÖZALAN | Mustafa ERTEK

Publisher:

TUBITAK

Main Topics:

Promotion of health

Journal:

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences 2010 Vol.40 Issue 4, pp.585-591

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

3/2010

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2000755019

Frequency:

Bimonthly

eISSN:

1303-6165

pISSN:

1300-0144

Keywords:

Abstract:

 

Until recently, the tuberculin skin test (TST) has been the only assay used for detecting latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), but two ex-vivo tests, used as alternative methods to TST, based on enumerating the M. tuberculosis-specific interferon (IFN)-g response are now commercially licensed. The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of TST, QuantiFERON Gold (QFT-G), and T-SPOT.TB in diagnosing LTBI and active tuberculosis (TB).   Materials and methods: This study was carried out with 95 participants including 3 groups (negative control, close contact, and patient groups) during a 10-month period from March 2007 to January 2008.   Results: When the cut-off value of the TST was regarded as >=15 mm, 46.4% of the patients and 14.3% of the control group were found to have positive values. The sensitivity (51.4%) and the negative predictive value (NPV) (52.6%) of TST were lower than the specificity (83.3%) and the positive predictive values (PPV) (82.6%). The sensitivity and the PPV of the QFT-G test (78.4% and 76.3%, respectively) were higher than the specificity (62.5%) and NPV (65.2%). The PPV (81.8%) of the T- SPOT.TB test was higher than sensitivity (73.0%), specificity (75.0%), and NPV (64.3%).   Conclusion: IFN-g tests could be useful in diagnosing LTBI and chemo-prophylaxis, as the false negativity of the TST was higher compared to both QFT-G and T-SPOT.TB. However, additional studies are needed to assess better the utility of these tests with large populations.

 

Until recently, the tuberculin skin test (TST) has been the only assay used for detecting latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI), but two ex-vivo tests, used as alternative methods to TST, based on enumerating the M. tuberculosis-specific interferon (IFN)-g response are now commercially licensed. The aim of this study was to compare the sensitivity and specificity of TST, QuantiFERON Gold (QFT-G), and T-SPOT.TB in diagnosing LTBI and active tuberculosis (TB).   Materials and methods: This study was carried out with 95 participants including 3 groups (negative control, close contact, and patient groups) during a 10-month period from March 2007 to January 2008.   Results: When the cut-off value of the TST was regarded as >=15 mm, 46.4% of the patients and 14.3% of the control group were found to have positive values. The sensitivity (51.4%) and the negative predictive value (NPV) (52.6%) of TST were lower than the specificity (83.3%) and the positive predictive values (PPV) (82.6%). The sensitivity and the PPV of the QFT-G test (78.4% and 76.3%, respectively) were higher than the specificity (62.5%) and NPV (65.2%). The PPV (81.8%) of the T- SPOT.TB test was higher than sensitivity (73.0%), specificity (75.0%), and NPV (64.3%).   Conclusion: IFN-g tests could be useful in diagnosing LTBI and chemo-prophylaxis, as the false negativity of the TST was higher compared to both QFT-G and T-SPOT.TB. However, additional studies are needed to assess better the utility of these tests with large populations.

Article Details

The comprehensive evaluation of latent tuberculosis infection in health care workers and of patients with active tuberculosis using TST, ELISA, and ELISPOT methods

Authors:

Hülya ŞİMŞEK | Sibel Meryem ALPAR | Kurtuluş AKSU | Funda AKSU | İsmail CEYHAN | Salih CESUR | Ayşegül GÖZALAN | Mustafa ERTEK

Publisher:

TUBITAK

Main Topics:

Promotion of health

Journal:

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences 2010 Vol.40 Issue 4, pp.585-591

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

3/2010

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2000755019

Frequency:

Bimonthly

eISSN:

1303-6165

pISSN:

1300-0144

Key words: IFN-g tests

QFT-G

T-SPOT.TB test

tuberculin skin test (TST)

latent TB

Issues

Article Details

The comprehensive evaluation of latent tuberculosis infection in health care workers and of patients with active tuberculosis using TST, ELISA, and ELISPOT methods

Authors: Hülya ŞİMŞEK | Sibel Meryem ALPAR | Kurtuluş AKSU | Funda AKSU | İsmail CEYHAN | Salih CESUR | Ayşegül GÖZALAN | Mustafa ERTEK

Publisher: TUBITAK

Main Topics: Promotion of health

Journal: Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences 2010 Vol.40 Issue 4, pp.585-591

Document Type: Article

Publication Date: 3/2010

Document Language: English

Document ID (Org No.): 2000755019

Frequency: Bimonthly

eISSN: 1303-6165

pISSN: 1300-0144

Key words: IFN-g tests

QFT-G

T-SPOT.TB test

tuberculin skin test (TST)

latent TB

Issues

Authors:

Hülya ŞİMŞEK | Sibel Meryem ALPAR | Kurtuluş AKSU | Funda AKSU | İsmail CEYHAN | Salih CESUR | Ayşegül GÖZALAN | Mustafa ERTEK

Publisher:

TUBITAK

Main Topics:

Promotion of health

Journal:

Turkish Journal of Medical Sciences 2010 Vol.40 Issue 4, pp.585-591

Document Type:

Article

Publication Date:

3/2010

Document Language:

English

Document ID (Org No.):

2000755019

Frequency:

Bimonthly

eISSN:

1303-6165

pISSN:

1300-0144