Performance of the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube assay in tuberculin skin test converters: a prospective cohort study

Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Castellanos Reynosa, M.E.;Kirimunda, S.;Martinez, L.;Quach, T.;Woldu, H.;Kakaire, R.;Handel, A.;Zalwango, S.;Kiwanuka, N.;Whalen, C.C.
Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate diagnostic agreement of the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) test in adult tuberculin skin test (TST) converters in a high tuberculosis (TB) burden setting. SETTING AND DESIGN: We performed a case-cohort study from 2014 to 2016 in Uganda among residents who were not infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Participants were followed up for 1 year, when they were retested to determine TST conversion. All TST converters and a random sample of participants from baseline were offered QFT-GIT testing. RESULTS: Of 368 enrolled participants, 61 (17%) converted their TST by 1 year. Among 61 converters, 42 were tested using QFT-GIT, 64% of whom were QFT-GIT-positive. Of 307 participants with a persistent negative TST, 48 were tested using QFT-GIT, 83% of whom were QFT-negative. Overall concordance of TST and QFT-GIT was moderate (κ = 0.48, 95%CI 0.30–0.66). Converters with a conversion of 15 mm had a higher proportion of concordant QFT-GIT results (79%) than converters with increments of 10–14.9 mm (52%). CONCLUSION: Concordance between TST and QFT-GIT was moderate among TST converters in this urban African population. These findings call for improved tests that more accurately measure conversion to tuberculous infection.

Journal

International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

Publication Name

The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

Volume

22

ISBN/ISSN

1815-7920

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Issue

9

Pages Count

6

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Publisher

International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease

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EISSN

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DOI

10.5588/ijtld.18.0073