The Sensitivity of an Interferon-γ Release Assay in Microbiologically Confirmed Pediatric Tuberculosis

Overview

Journal Eur J Pediatr

Specialty Pediatrics

Date 2013 Sep 26

PMID 24065457

Citations 3

Authors

Kurt Schopfer

Hans L Rieder

Thomas Bodmer

Jacqueline F Steinlin-Schopfer

Yay Chantana

Peter Studer

Denis Laurent

Beat Richner

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Unlabelled: This study aimed at determining the sensitivity of a whole blood interferon-γ release assay (IGRA) among children with microbiologically confirmed tuberculosis in a high-burden country. Children with a diagnosis of tuberculosis based on clinical and radiographic assessment were tested with an IGRA in addition to microbiologic examination of appropriate specimens for acid-fast bacilli, mycobacterial rRNA, and observation for growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis on appropriate culture media. Of the 405 children with a clinical diagnosis of tuberculosis, 91 (22.5 %) had microbiologically confirmed tuberculosis, of whom 81 were tested with an IGRA. A positive result was obtained in 43 (sensitivity 53.1 %, 95 % confidence interval 42.3 to 63.6 %), uninfluenced by age, sex, or disease manifestation.

Conclusions: The sensitivity of a whole blood interferon-γ release assay in microbiologically confirmed pediatric tuberculosis was low. An IGRA cannot, thus, be used as rule-in test, but it might be useful to rule in tuberculosis among children in whom tuberculosis is notoriously difficult to confirm microbiologically.

Citing Articles

Novel interferon-gamma assays for diagnosing tuberculosis in young children in India.

Shaikh N, Gupte A, Dharmshale S, Pokkali S, Thakar M, Upadhye V Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2017; 21(4):412-419.

PMID: 28284256 PMC: 5453635. DOI: 10.5588/ijtld.16.0428.

Serial QuantiFERON testing and tuberculosis disease risk among young children: an observational cohort study.

Andrews J, Nemes E, Tameris M, Landry B, Mahomed H, McClain J Lancet Respir Med. 2017; 5(4):282-290.

PMID: 28215501 PMC: 6350938. DOI: 10.1016/S2213-2600(17)30060-7.

Performance of the Interferon Gamma Release Assays in Tuberculosis Disease in Children Five Years Old or Less.

Sun L, Tian J, Yin Q, Xiao J, Li J, Guo Y PLoS One. 2015; 10(12):e0143820.

PMID: 26640948 PMC: 4671679. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0143820.

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