Evidence map›Paper›PMID 37256138›Full record

SynthesisFrontiers in immunology2023

Indeterminate results of interferon gamma release assays in the screening of latent tuberculosis infection: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Guozhong Zhou, Qingyi Luo, Shiqi Luo, Hongbo Chen, Shunli Cai, Xin Guo, Jian He, Yuan Xia, Hanse Li, Yingchen Zhou and 2 more

Open access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Frontiers in immunology, 2023. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 28 papers, 3 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
28citing papers in PubMed, 3 pooled it
6.4field-weighted citation impact, top 2% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

28 citing papers in PubMed, 3 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 33 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Diagnostic accuracy ofFrontiers in immunology · 2026
    Pooled it
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  3. Pooled it
  4. What is new in tuberculosis?Clinical medicine (London, England) · 2026
    Review
  5. Consensus-based evaluation of RIDASCREENEuropean journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology · 2026
    Article
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  13. IJTLD open · 2025
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.

Guozhong ZhouDepartment of Science and Research, Anning First People's Hospital Affiliated to Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Qingyi LuoDepartment of Medical Imaging, Yanan Hospital Affiliated to Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Shiqi LuoDepartment of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Hongbo ChenDepartment of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Anning First People's Hospital Affiliated to Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Shunli CaiSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Xin GuoSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Jian HeDepartment of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, School of Basic Medicine Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.
Yuan XiaSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Hanse LiSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Yingchen ZhouThe School of Medicine, Kunming University, Kunming, China.
Yazhou ZhangDepartment of Gerontology 2, The Second People's Hospital of Kunming, Kunming, China.
Chao SongDepartment of Medical Imaging, Anning First People's Hospital Affiliated to Kunming University of Science and Technology, Kunming, Yunnan, China.
Kunming Medical University · CNKunming University of Science and Technology · CNChinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College · CNKunming University · CNXian Yang Central Hospital · CN

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate the indeterminate rate of interferon gamma release assays (IGRAs) in the detection of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Methods: On 15 November 2022, we searched the PubMed® (National Library of Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA), Embase® (Elsevier, Amsterdam, the Netherlands), and Cochrane Library databases in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Two investigators independently extracted the study data and assessed their quality using a modified quality assessment of diagnostic accuracy studies (i.e., QUADAS-2) tool. A random-effects model was used to calculate pooled results. Results: We included 403 studies involving 486,886 individuals and found that the pooled indeterminate rate was 3.9% (95% CI 3.5%-4.2%). The pooled indeterminate rate for QuantiFERON®-TB (QFT) was similar to that for T-SPOT®.TB (T-SPOT) [odds ratio (OR) = 0.88, 95% CI 0.59-1.32]; however, the indeterminate rate for a new generation of QFT (QFT-plus) was lower than that of T-SPOT (OR = 0.24, 95% CI 0.16-0.35). The indeterminate rate in the immunocompromised population was significantly higher than that in healthy controls (OR = 3.51, 95% CI 2.11-5.82), and it increased with the reduction of CD4+ cell count in HIV-positive patients. Children's pooled indeterminate rates (OR = 2.56, 95% CI 1.79-3.57) were significantly higher than those of adults, and the rates increased as the children's age decreased. Conclusion: On average, 1 in 26 tests yields indeterminate IGRA results in LTBI screening. The use of advanced versions of the QuantiFERON-TB assay (QFT-plus), may potentially reduce the occurrence of an indeterminate result. Our study emphasizes the high risk of immunosuppression and young age in relation to indeterminate IGRA, which should receive more attention in the management of LTBI. Systematic review registration: PROSPERO https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42020211363, CRD42020211363.

Indexed as

HIV SeropositivityLatent TuberculosisAdultChildHumansImmunocompromised HostInterferon-gamma Release TestsMass ScreeningUnited Statesdiagnosisindeterminateinterferon gamma release assay (IGRA)latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI)meta-analysis

Identifiers

PMID37256138
PMCPMC10225525
OpenAlexW4376612459

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.