Latent Tuberculosis in HIV positive, diagnosed by the M. Tuberculosis Specific Interferon-γ test

Abstract

Background: Although tuberculosis (TB) is a minor problem in Denmark, severe and complicated cases occur in HIV positive. Since the new M. tuberculosis specific test for latent TB, the QuantiFERON-TB In-Tube test (QFT-IT) became available the patients in our clinic have been screened for the presence of latent TB using the QFT-IT test. We here report the results from the first patients screened.

Effect of HIV-1 Infection on T-Cell–based and Skin Test Detection of Tuberculosis Infection

“…The bacillary burden in LTBI is many logs lower than in active disease and so it may not be possible to conclude with confidence that a negative IFNGRA excludes LTBI. In this respect addition of further species-specific antigens to test formulations might incrementally improve sensitivity (29,37). Cutoffs for novel diagnostic tests are often defined by receiver operator characteristic (ROC) analysis.…”

Italian Consensus Statement on Management of HIV-Infected Individuals with Advanced Disease Naïve to Antiretroviral Therapy

“…A low sensitivity to the skin tuberculin test will be overcome, in part, by the introduction of two blood tests (T-SPOT.TB and Quantiferon-TB Gold), which are based on the detection of IFN-gamma released by T lymphocytes in response to Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigens. Clinical studies examining these new tests in the HIV patient population are in progress [20].…”

Diagnosis of tuberculosis infection using interferon-γ-based assays

“…In studies evaluating T-SPOT.TB and its ELISPOT precommercial version 20,21 or the QFT-G tests, 22,23 in vitro tests obtained higher rates of positive results than TST in diagnosing LTBI, 23,24 and a better association between positive results and presence of risk factors for LTBI. 22,23 In recent years, some studies in HIV-infected populations reported similar sensitivities for both IFN-γ tests.…”