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Prospective Comparison of Tuberculin Skin Test and QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube Assay for the Detection of Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Healthcare Workers in a Low-Incidence Setting

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Kristin J. Cummings*
Affiliation:
Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, Morgantown, West Virginia
Tamara S. Smith
Affiliation:
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the Section of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, Morgantown, West Virginia
Elizabeth S. Shogren
Affiliation:
Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, Morgantown, West Virginia
Rashida Khakoo
Affiliation:
Section of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Morgantown, West Virginia
Sharmilarani Nanda
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Morgantown, West Virginia
Lana Bunner
Affiliation:
West Virginia University School of Medicine, the University Health Associates, West Virginia University, Morgantown, West Virginia
Ann Smithmyer
Affiliation:
Employee Health Department, West Virginia University Hospitals, Morgantown, West Virginia
Darlene Soccorsi
Affiliation:
Employee Health Department, West Virginia University Hospitals, Morgantown, West Virginia
Michael L. Kashon
Affiliation:
Health Effects Laboratory Division, Morgantown, West Virginia
Gerald H. Mazurek
Affiliation:
Division of Tuberculosis Elimination, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia
Lloyd N. Friedman
Affiliation:
Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
David N. Weissman
Affiliation:
Division of Respiratory Disease Studies, Morgantown, West Virginia
*
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1095 Willowdale Road, MS-2800, Morgantown, WV 26505 ([email protected])

Abstract

We compared the results of the tuberculin skin test with the results of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) assay among 182 low-risk healthcare workers. Overall agreement and specificity were high, but the tests did not agree on positive results. Only 2 of 5 positive QFT-GIT assay results could be confirmed with repeat analyses. Indeterminate results were associated with potential immunosuppression.

Type
Concise Communications
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2009

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