ArticlePloS one2015
Fluctuating Behavior and Influential Factors in the Performance of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube Assay in the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis.
Article in PloS one, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 9 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
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Who cites it
9 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 16 citations in OpenAlex.
- Risk Factors for Indeterminate Interferon-Gamma Release Assay for the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Children-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2019Pooled it
- Case Report: Tuberculous meningitis presenting with multifocal cerebral infarction and hydrocephalus in a toddler.Frontiers in pediatrics · 2026Article
- Role of interferon gamma release assay in the diagnosis and management ofBMJ open ophthalmology · 2021Review
- Clinical application of QuantiFERON-TB Gold in-tube in the diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis.European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology · 2020Review
- Serial anti-tuberculous immune responses during the follow-up of patients with tuberculous pleurisy.Medicine · 2020Observational
- QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test in active tuberculosis patients and healthy adults.Revista do Instituto de Medicina Tropical de Sao Paulo · 2018Article
- Characteristics of peripheral Vγ2Vδ2 T cells in interferon-γ release assay negative pulmonary tuberculosis patients.BMC infectious diseases · 2018Article
- QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-tube test for the diagnosis of active and latent tuberculosis in selected health facilities of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.BMC research notes · 2018Article
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Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
8 authors at 4 institutions in 2 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundThe QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) is a newly developed but widely used interferon-γ release assay for diagnosing tuberculosis (TB). However, research has not determined whether age or the use of an immune suppressive or anti-TB treatment influences this assay's ability to detect TB. We assessed the QFT-GIT diagnostic performance for active tuberculosis (ATB) in children and adults in an endemic country and explored the effects of glucocorticoids and anti-TB therapy on the diagnostic value of the QFT-GIT.
methodsA total of 60 children and 212 adults with suspected ATB were evaluated with the QFT-GIT. The association between the QFT-GIT diagnostic value and pretreatment factors was qualitatively and quantitatively assessed.
resultsThe sensitivity of the QFT-GIT was 83.9% (95% CI 66.3%-94.6%) in children, and 73.7% (95% CI 57.8%-85.2%) in adults. Glucocorticoids affected the mitogen-stimulated response in both children and adults. In subjects undergoing glucocorticoid pretreatment, 25.0% of the children presented with false-negative QFT-GIT results, 28.6% of adults presented with indeterminate results. For subjects pre-treated with anti-TB drugs, 44.4% presented with false-negative QFT-GIT results.
conclusionsThe QFT-GIT has higher sensitivity and specificity in children than adults. Glucocorticoid treatment negatively impacts the diagnostic value of the QFT-GIT in all age groups. Anti-TB treatment decreases the sensitivity of the QFT-GIT. Therefore, we recommend that the QFT-GIT assay be performed before TB-specific treatment is initiated and the test should not be used on people undergoing immunosuppression treatment, regardless of their age. A quantitative analysis of the QFT-GIT could be useful for assessing and monitoring TB-specific and non-specific immunity during conversion of the disease.
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