Antonio Fernández Arias1. 1. Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria, Unidad de Gestión Clínica Algeciras Sur, Área Sanitaria Campo de Gibraltar, Cádiz, Spain. afdzarias@hotmail.com
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To compare the sensitivity, specificity and efficiency between Mantoux and Interferon-gamma techniques, using secondary sources. DESIGN: Study of the published literature with a high evidence-based sources of scientific information. DATA SOURCES: A bibliographic search in the Cochrane database and Trip-database. STUDY SELECTION: We found three Clinical Practice Guidelines and nine articles, which included one Systematic Review, one Meta-analysis, one article on the sensitivity of the new techniques, three cost-efficiency studies, and three prospective studies on the role of interferon-gamma release in the diagnosis of TB. RESULTS: The new techniques have a higher specificity than Mantoux for the diagnosis of LTBI in contacts vaccinated in childhood with BCG. The most cost-effective diagnostic strategy for LTBI was Mantoux screening and confirmation with QFT-G. CONCLUSION: Resources should be coordinated, limiting its use in studies of contacts in immunocompetent adults vaccinated with BCG, with Mantoux>5mm or Tuberculin doubtful cases.
OBJECTIVE: To compare the sensitivity, specificity and efficiency between Mantoux and Interferon-gamma techniques, using secondary sources. DESIGN: Study of the published literature with a high evidence-based sources of scientific information. DATA SOURCES: A bibliographic search in the Cochrane database and Trip-database. STUDY SELECTION: We found three Clinical Practice Guidelines and nine articles, which included one Systematic Review, one Meta-analysis, one article on the sensitivity of the new techniques, three cost-efficiency studies, and three prospective studies on the role of interferon-gamma release in the diagnosis of TB. RESULTS: The new techniques have a higher specificity than Mantoux for the diagnosis of LTBI in contacts vaccinated in childhood with BCG. The most cost-effective diagnostic strategy for LTBI was Mantoux screening and confirmation with QFT-G. CONCLUSION: Resources should be coordinated, limiting its use in studies of contacts in immunocompetent adults vaccinated with BCG, with Mantoux>5mm or Tuberculin doubtful cases.
Authors: Gerald H Mazurek; Stephen E Weis; Patrick K Moonan; Charles L Daley; John Bernardo; Alfred A Lardizabal; Randall R Reves; Sean R Toney; Laura J Daniels; Philip A LoBue Journal: Clin Infect Dis Date: 2007-08-24 Impact factor: 9.079