Performance and correlation of QuantiFERON-TB Gold, T-SPOT.TB and tuberculin skin test in young children with tuberculosis exposure or tuberculosis disease

• Published in: Asian Pacific Journal of Tropical Medicine
• Main Authors: Keswadee Lapphra, Paninun Srinuchasart, Sansnee Senawong, Utane Rungpanich, Pinklow Umrod, Alan Maleesatharn, Nantaka Kongstan, Watcharee Lermankul, Kulkanya Chokephaibulkit
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications 2020
• Subjects: tuberculin skin test; quantiferon-tb gold in- tube test; t-spot.tb; young children; Arctic medicine. Tropical medicine; RC955-962; Arctic; Calmette
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.4103/1995-7645.290587; https://doaj.org/article/05be6cd76fa04748af98e254818e972e

Objective: To evaluate the performance of interferon gamma release assays and tuberculin skin test in Bacillus Calmette-Guerin vaccinated young children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in healthy children younger than 5 years who were recently diagnosed with tuberculosis or had recent exposure to active tuberculosis. QuantiFERON-TB Gold, T-SPOT.TB and tuberculin skin test were performed in each patient. Results: Of the 60 children, median age 3.3 years, 17 had tuberculosis and 43 had recent tuberculosis exposure. Overall, 15 (25.0%) children had tuberculin skin test reaction ≥ 10 mm; 8 (13.3%) were positive by QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test, and 12 (20.0%) by T-SPOT.TB. Nineteen (31.7%) children had at least one positive test. There was a moderate agreement between interferon gamma release assays and tuberculin skin test. Conclusions: The positive rates of interferon gamma release assays and tuberculin skin test were low in young children who were infected with tuberculosis, supporting the management strategy without testing in children younger than 5 years.