SETTING: Capital Health Tuberculosis (TB) Clinic, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT) results after implementation as a routine test for tuberculin skin test (TST) positive patients. DESIGN: From November 2004 until January 2007, patients who were TST-positive and were eligible for preventive treatment based on Canadian guidelines, were offered a QFT. RESULTS: Of 1446 TST-positive patients, only 566 (39.6%) were QFT-positive. Categorized by reason for TST testing, 43.1% of 304 contacts, 32.8% of 348 employment screens and 24.2% of 298 post secondary school screens were QFT-positive. In contrast, 59.7% of 290 immigration screens were QFT-positive. A multivariate analysis found that QFT positivity was associated with older age, larger TST size, high-incidence TB region of birth, history of TB and chest X-ray findings suggestive of previous TB. CONCLUSION: Implementation of the QFT as a secondary test for latent TB infection (LTBI) can significantly reduce the number of patients given LTBI treatment in a low-incidence country such as Canada.
SETTING: Capital Health Tuberculosis (TB) Clinic, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test (QFT) results after implementation as a routine test for tuberculin skin test (TST) positive patients. DESIGN: From November 2004 until January 2007, patients who were TST-positive and were eligible for preventive treatment based on Canadian guidelines, were offered a QFT. RESULTS: Of 1446 TST-positive patients, only 566 (39.6%) were QFT-positive. Categorized by reason for TST testing, 43.1% of 304 contacts, 32.8% of 348 employment screens and 24.2% of 298 post secondary school screens were QFT-positive. In contrast, 59.7% of 290 immigration screens were QFT-positive. A multivariate analysis found that QFT positivity was associated with older age, larger TST size, high-incidence TB region of birth, history of TB and chest X-ray findings suggestive of previous TB. CONCLUSION: Implementation of the QFT as a secondary test for latent TB infection (LTBI) can significantly reduce the number of patients given LTBI treatment in a low-incidence country such as Canada.
Authors: Baha Abdalhamid; Steven H Hinrichs; Jodi L Garrett; Jean M O'Neill; Kristine M Hansen-Cain; Amy A Armbrust; Peter C Iwen Journal: J Clin Microbiol Date: 2010-06-23 Impact factor: 5.948
Authors: Edward C Jones-López; Laura F White; Bruce Kirenga; Francis Mumbowa; Martin Ssebidandi; Stephanie Moine; Olive Mbabazi; Gerald Mboowa; Irene Ayakaka; Soyeon Kim; Christina S Thornton; Alphonse Okwera; Moses Joloba; Kevin P Fennelly Journal: PLoS One Date: 2015-09-22 Impact factor: 3.240
Authors: Jonathan W Uzorka; Lucia J M Kroft; Jaap A Bakker; Erik W van Zwet; Erik Huisman; Corine Prins; Cornelis J van der Zwan; Tom H M Ottenhoff; Sandra M Arend Journal: J Clin Tuberc Other Mycobact Dis Date: 2019-01-25
Authors: Maunank Shah; Danielle DiPietro; Adena Greenbaum; Sherry Ketemepi; Maria Martins-Evora; Vincent Marsiglia; Susan E Dorman Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-05-07 Impact factor: 3.240