Comparison of specificities between two interferon-gamma release assays in Japan

Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2012 Sep;16(9):1190-2. doi: 10.5588/ijtld.11.0829. Epub 2012 Jun 28.

Abstract

We compared the specificities of two interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs), T-SPOT®.TB (T-SPOT) and the QuantiFERON®-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) assay, in strictly selected subjects with a low risk of tuberculosis (TB) infection in a Japanese population. Of 111 subjects who were mostly bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccinated, one was positive using both assays and 110 were negative, using international cut-off values. Although several meta-analyses report that QFT-GIT has higher specificity than T-SPOT, our study demonstrates that the specificity of both assays is equally high in a population with a truly low risk of TB infection.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • BCG Vaccine / immunology
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay*
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / analysis*
  • Interferon-gamma Release Tests*
  • Japan
  • Male
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / immunology*
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • T-Lymphocytes / immunology*
  • T-Lymphocytes / microbiology
  • Tuberculosis / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis / immunology
  • Tuberculosis / microbiology
  • Tuberculosis / prevention & control
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • BCG Vaccine
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
  • Interferon-gamma