BACKGROUND: Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) have been recently developed for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) infection. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the performance of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based IGRA for detecting TB in children. METHODS: A prospective study in 336 children at risk for TB infection was carried out. All children were tested with tuberculin skin test (TST) and a commercial ELISA-based IGRA [QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (Cellestis)]. RESULTS: TST were positive in 58 of 336 (17.3%) and IGRA in 60 of 336 (17.9%) children. Two (0.6%) IGRA results were indeterminate. The overall agreement between the 2 tests was intermediate (86.2%, kappa= 0.533). IGRA was positive in 15 of 16 (93.8%) children with active pulmonary TB. The discordant pattern IGRA-/TST+ was significantly associated with Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination. Among IGRA+ children (excluding cases of TB disease), TST- were significantly younger than TST+ children. CONCLUSIONS: The good agreement between positive IGRA and active TB disease suggests a good sensitivity of IGRA. Discrepancies between IGRA and TST can be a result of higher specificity of IGRA that is not influenced by previous BCG vaccination. IGRA may be more sensitive in children younger than 48 months.
BACKGROUND:Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) have been recently developed for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) infection. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the performance of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA)-based IGRA for detecting TB in children. METHODS: A prospective study in 336 children at risk for TB infection was carried out. All children were tested with tuberculin skin test (TST) and a commercial ELISA-based IGRA [QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (Cellestis)]. RESULTS: TST were positive in 58 of 336 (17.3%) and IGRA in 60 of 336 (17.9%) children. Two (0.6%) IGRA results were indeterminate. The overall agreement between the 2 tests was intermediate (86.2%, kappa= 0.533). IGRA was positive in 15 of 16 (93.8%) children with active pulmonary TB. The discordant pattern IGRA-/TST+ was significantly associated with Bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination. Among IGRA+ children (excluding cases of TB disease), TST- were significantly younger than TST+ children. CONCLUSIONS: The good agreement between positive IGRA and active TB disease suggests a good sensitivity of IGRA. Discrepancies between IGRA and TST can be a result of higher specificity of IGRA that is not influenced by previous BCG vaccination. IGRA may be more sensitive in children younger than 48 months.
Authors: E Chiappini; A Lo Vecchio; S Garazzino; G L Marseglia; F Bernardi; E Castagnola; P Tomà; D Cirillo; C Russo; C Gabiano; D Ciofi; G Losurdo; M Bocchino; E Tortoli; M Tadolini; A Villani; A Guarino; S Esposito Journal: Eur J Clin Microbiol Infect Dis Date: 2016-01 Impact factor: 3.267
Authors: K Schepers; F Mouchet; V Dirix; I De Schutter; K Jotzo; V Verscheure; P Geurts; M Singh; J P Van Vooren; F Mascart Journal: Clin Vaccine Immunol Date: 2013-10-23
Authors: Meredith M Howley; John A Painter; Dolores J Katz; Edward A Graviss; Randall Reves; Suzanne F Beavers; Denise O Garrett Journal: Pediatr Infect Dis J Date: 2015-01 Impact factor: 2.129
Authors: Kurt Schopfer; Hans L Rieder; Thomas Bodmer; Jacqueline F Steinlin-Schopfer; Yay Chantana; Peter Studer; Denis Laurent; Beat Richner Journal: Eur J Pediatr Date: 2013-09-25 Impact factor: 3.183