QuantiFERON TB Gold: a new method for latent tuberculosis infection.

QuantiFERON-TB Gold obtained approval in 2003 by the Food and Drug Administration as a valid tool for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis. In this report, we evaluated its potential use in the immunological diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infections in different groups of subjects. Our data indicate that QuantiFERON-TB Gold is specific for identifying subjects who have come into contact with M. tuberculosis and its use alongside traditional diagnostic techniques may be an important instrument for controlling tuberculosis.