TB Research

QuantiFERON-TB Performs Better in Children, Including Infants, than in Adults with Active Tuberculosis: a Multicenter Study

Lombardi G, Pellegrino MT, Denicolò A, Corsini I, Tadolini M, Bergamini BM, Meacci M, Garazzino S, et al. (12 authors)

Journal of clinical microbiology · 2019-09

Abstract

Immunological tests, including the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-IT) assay, represent an important aid for diagnosing active tuberculosis (TB) and latent TB infections in children, but concerns about their use in children P P P < 0.0001). In summary, this study supports the use of QFT-IT as a complementary test for the diagnosis of pediatric TB even under 2 years of age. Our observations could be applicable to the new version of the test, QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus, which has recently been shown to have similar sensitivity in active TB, although data in children are still lacking.

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis
  • Tuberculosis
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child, Preschool
  • Infant
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Female
  • Male
  • Young Adult
  • Latent Tuberculosis
  • Interferon-gamma Release Tests