OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of age upon QuantiFERON-TB Gold-In-Tube (QFT-IT) assay outcome among children examined for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 761 children (mean age ± SD: 7.84 ± 4.68 years) evaluated for LTBI. Participants were examined with both tuberculin skin test and QFT-IT (Cellestis, Australia) and categorized into 4 age groups. Multivariate logistic and linear regressions were used to evaluate the association between selected demographic and patient characteristics upon the qualitative and quantitative QFT-IT outcomes. Agreement between the tuberculin skin test and QFT-IT within groups was evaluated with the κ statistic. RESULTS: QFT-IT indeterminate results occurred more frequently among young children (8.1%; P < .0001) and children (2.7%; P = .025) than adolescents (0.7%). Among QFT-IT positive patients, infants had higher mean (± SD) interferon-gamma (IFNγ) concentration than adolescents. QFT-IT positive (vs negative) outcome was associated with origin from a high tuberculosis endemicity setting (AOR = 4.54; 95% CI, 3.22-6.25) and lack of previous Bacille Calmette Guerin immunization (AOR = 2.70; 95% CI, 1.89-3.85), but not patient age (AOR = 0.96; 95% CI, 0.92-0.99). However, among QFT-IT positive patients, the IFNγ concentration was inversely associated with patient age (P = .009) and positively with mitogen response (P = .0002). Agreement between tests was not significantly different between younger and older children in the different risk groups. CONCLUSIONS: Qualitative QFT-IT assay results are not affected by patient age. However, indeterminate results occur more frequently among younger children. Among patients with LTBI the quantitative QFT-IT result (ie, IFNγ) is inversely associated with patient age.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of age upon QuantiFERON-TB Gold-In-Tube (QFT-IT) assay outcome among children examined for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 761 children (mean age ± SD: 7.84 ± 4.68 years) evaluated for LTBI. Participants were examined with both tuberculin skin test and QFT-IT (Cellestis, Australia) and categorized into 4 age groups. Multivariate logistic and linear regressions were used to evaluate the association between selected demographic and patient characteristics upon the qualitative and quantitative QFT-IT outcomes. Agreement between the tuberculin skin test and QFT-IT within groups was evaluated with the κ statistic. RESULTS: QFT-IT indeterminate results occurred more frequently among young children (8.1%; P < .0001) and children (2.7%; P = .025) than adolescents (0.7%). Among QFT-IT positive patients, infants had higher mean (± SD) interferon-gamma (IFNγ) concentration than adolescents. QFT-IT positive (vs negative) outcome was associated with origin from a high tuberculosis endemicity setting (AOR = 4.54; 95% CI, 3.22-6.25) and lack of previous Bacille Calmette Guerin immunization (AOR = 2.70; 95% CI, 1.89-3.85), but not patient age (AOR = 0.96; 95% CI, 0.92-0.99). However, among QFT-IT positive patients, the IFNγ concentration was inversely associated with patient age (P = .009) and positively with mitogen response (P = .0002). Agreement between tests was not significantly different between younger and older children in the different risk groups. CONCLUSIONS: Qualitative QFT-IT assay results are not affected by patient age. However, indeterminate results occur more frequently among younger children. Among patients with LTBI the quantitative QFT-IT result (ie, IFNγ) is inversely associated with patient age.
Authors: Jason R Andrews; Elisa Nemes; Michele Tameris; Bernard S Landry; Hassan Mahomed; J Bruce McClain; Helen A Fletcher; Willem A Hanekom; Robin Wood; Helen McShane; Thomas J Scriba; Mark Hatherill Journal: Lancet Respir Med Date: 2017-02-16 Impact factor: 30.700
Authors: Anna M Mandalakas; H Lester Kirchner; Gerhard Walzl; Robert P Gie; H Simon Schaaf; Mark F Cotton; Harleen M S Grewal; Anneke C Hesseling Journal: Am J Respir Crit Care Med Date: 2015-04-01 Impact factor: 21.405
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: Tao Li; Lei Bao; Ni Diao; Feng Sun; Yan Gao; Ka-Wing Wong; Xiuhong Xi; Xuhui Liu; Sen Wang; Jing Wu; Ma Hui; Xiaoyong Fan; Ying Zhang; Wenhong Zhang; Shuihua Lu Journal: Clin Exp Med Date: 2014-06-13 Impact factor: 3.984