Clinical evaluation for diagnosing active TB disease and transitional change of two commercial blood tests

We compared the usefulness of TST, QFT-TB and T-SPOT.TB for the identification of patients with active tuberculosis (TB) disease and investigated transitional change in both tests during anti-tuberculous treatment. The subjects were 50 healthy volunteers and 48 patients with active TB disease betwee...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases 2008, Vol.40 (8), p.629-634
Main Authors: KOBASHI, Yoshihiro, MOURI, Keiji, YAGI, Shinichi, OBASE, Yasushi, MIYASHITA, Naoyuki, OKIMOTO, Niro, MATSUSHIMA, Toshiharu, KAGEOKA, Takeshi, OKA, Mikio
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Aged
Antigens, Bacterial - immunology
Antitubercular Agents - therapeutic use
Bacterial Proteins - immunology
BCG Vaccine
Biological and medical sciences
Chi-Square Distribution
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay - methods
Female
Humans
Infectious diseases
Interferon-gamma - analysis
Logistic Models
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Mycobacterium
Mycobacterium tuberculosis - immunology
Tuberculin Test
Tuberculosis - blood
Tuberculosis - diagnosis
Tuberculosis - drug therapy
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Summary:We compared the usefulness of TST, QFT-TB and T-SPOT.TB for the identification of patients with active tuberculosis (TB) disease and investigated transitional change in both tests during anti-tuberculous treatment. The subjects were 50 healthy volunteers and 48 patients with active TB disease between October 2005 and December 2006. Among active TB disease patients, 60% had a positive TST result, 81% had a positive QFT-TB result, and 87% had a positive T-SPOT.TB result. Indeterminate results of QFT-TB and T-SPOT.TB were recognized in 12% and 6% of patients, respectively. Negative results on QFT-TB and T-SPOT.TB were 6% each. QFT-TB had a sensitivity of 81% for active TB disease. T-SPOT.TB had a sensitivity of 88% for active TB disease. With regard to transitional changes in QFT-TB results and T-SPOT.TB results, both test results showed a positive response in over 40% of patients 12 months after anti-tuberculous treatment. In conclusion, both blood assays seemed to be more useful than TST for the identification of patients with active TB disease. However, neither of the 2 blood tests appears to provide any certainty regarding the cure of infection.
ISSN:0036-5548
1651-1980
DOI:10.1080/00365540801932454