OBJECTIVE: Limited data exist about the performance of the intracellular cytokine flow cytometry (ICCFC) with respect to that of the commercial interferon-γ release assay for the detection of tuberculosis (TB) infection. Here, we compared the diagnostic accuracy of an ICCFC with that of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-IT) test for the detection of TB in a clinical setting. METHODS: Eighty-nine patients suspected of having TB were prospectively included. Both the QFT-IT test and ICCFC were performed for all subjects (TB [n = 65] and non-TB [n = 24]). Ten healthy controls who tested negative by QFT-IT were also assessed by ICCFC. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the ICCFC was significantly superior to that of the QFT-IT test (91% vs. 78%, p = 0.021). The clinical characteristics of patients in whom the ICCFC exhibited superior sensitivity compared to the QFT-IT test included advanced age, lymphocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia, increased C-reactive protein level, a positive acid-fast bacilli smear of respiratory specimens, and radiographically more extensive disease. CONCLUSIONS: ICCFC might be a preferable technique for the detection of TB infection, particularly in patients with conditions associated with impaired performance of the QFT-IT test.
OBJECTIVE: Limited data exist about the performance of the intracellular cytokine flow cytometry (ICCFC) with respect to that of the commercial interferon-γ release assay for the detection of tuberculosis (TB) infection. Here, we compared the diagnostic accuracy of an ICCFC with that of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-IT) test for the detection of TB in a clinical setting. METHODS: Eighty-nine patients suspected of having TB were prospectively included. Both the QFT-IT test and ICCFC were performed for all subjects (TB [n = 65] and non-TB [n = 24]). Ten healthy controls who tested negative by QFT-IT were also assessed by ICCFC. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the ICCFC was significantly superior to that of the QFT-IT test (91% vs. 78%, p = 0.021). The clinical characteristics of patients in whom the ICCFC exhibited superior sensitivity compared to the QFT-IT test included advanced age, lymphocytopenia, hypoalbuminemia, increased C-reactive protein level, a positive acid-fast bacilli smear of respiratory specimens, and radiographically more extensive disease. CONCLUSIONS: ICCFC might be a preferable technique for the detection of TB infection, particularly in patients with conditions associated with impaired performance of the QFT-IT test.
Authors: I Sauzullo; R Scrivo; F Mengoni; A Ermocida; M Coppola; G Valesini; V Vullo; C M Mastroianni Journal: Clin Exp Immunol Date: 2014-06 Impact factor: 4.330
Authors: Rachel A Bender Ignacio; Jessica Long; Aparajita Saha; Felicia K Nguyen; Lara Joudeh; Ethan Valinetz; Simon C Mendelsohn; Thomas J Scriba; Mark Hatherill; Holly Janes; Gavin Churchyard; Susan Buchbinder; Ann Duerr; Javeed A Shah; Thomas R Hawn Journal: PLoS One Date: 2022-05-03 Impact factor: 3.752