Comparison of the Sensitivity of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube and T-SPOT.TB According to Patient Age

Currently, there are two types of interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) in use for the detection of tuberculosis (TB) infection, the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube test (GFT-GIT) and T-SPOT.TB. Owing to contradictory reports regarding whether the results of these IGRAs are affected by the age of the patient, we aimed to determine if these two tests have age-related differences in sensitivity. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of diagnosed TB patients who were tested using either QFT-GIT or T-SPOT.TB from February 2008 to December 2013. The positivity of the two tests was analyzed and compared with true TB infection, which was defined as active TB based on either a positive Mycobacterium culture or a positive TB polymerase chain reaction. The QFT-GIT group included 192 TB patients, and the T-SPOT.TB group included 212 TB patients. Of the patients with pulmonary TB, 76 (39.6%) were in the QFT-GIT group and 143 (67.5%) in the T-SPOT.TB group. The overall sensitivity was 80.2% for QFT-GIT and 91.0% for T.SPOT.TB. The sensitivities of QFT-GIT and T-SPOT.TB according to age group were as follows: <29 years, 93.3% and 96.7%; 30–49 years, 86.5% and 94.7%; 50–69 years, 76.8% and 87.5%; and >70 years, 68.3% and 85.7%, respectively. The trend of age-related changes in sensitivity was significant for both QFT-GIT (p = 0.004) and T.SPOT.TB (p = 0.039). However, only QFT-GIT was significantly related to age in the multivariate analysis. QFT-GIT, but not T-SPOT.TB, was significantly affected by patient age.

• Publication year

  2016

• Venue

  PLoS ONE

• Publication date

  2016-06-03

• Fields of study

  Medicine

• Identifiers
  DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0156917PMID 27258377PMCID 4892501
• External record

  Open on Semantic Scholar

• Source metadata

  Semantic Scholar, PubMed

• No claims are published for this paper.

• No concepts are published for this paper.

• Factors that Predict Negative Results of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube Test in Patients with Culture-Confirmed Tuberculosis: A Multicenter Retrospective Cohort Study

  2015cited by this paper
• Risk factors for false-negative T-SPOT.TB assay results in patients with pulmonary and extra-pulmonary TB.

  2015cited by this paper
• Factors Associated with a Strong Response to the T-SPOT.TB in Patients with Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis

  2014cited by this paper
• Global tuberculosis report (2014)

  2014cited by this paper
• The performance and limitation of T-SPOT.TB for the diagnosis of TB in a high prevalence setting.

  2014cited by this paper
• Risk assessment of tuberculosis in immunocompromised patients. A TBNET study.

  2014cited by this paper
• Diabetes is associated with lower tuberculosis antigen-specific interferon gamma release in Tanzanian tuberculosis patients and non-tuberculosis controls

  2014cited by this paper
• Indeterminate T-SPOT.TB Test Results in Patients with Suspected Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis in Routine Clinical Practice

  2013cited by this paper
• IGRAs--the gateway to T cell based TB diagnosis.

  2013cited by this paper
• Factors influencing discordant results of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-tube test in patients with active TB.

  2013cited by this paper
• Diagnostic performance of interferon-gamma release assays in elderly populations in comparison with younger populations

  2013cited by this paper
• IFN-γ release assays in the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection among immunocompromised adults.

  2013cited by this paper
• Risk factors for false-negative results of T-SPOT.TB and tuberculin skin test in extrapulmonary tuberculosis

  2013cited by this paper
• Validation of Increased Blood Storage Times with the T-SPOT.TB Assay with T-Cell Xtend Reagent in Individuals with Different Tuberculosis Risk Factors

  2012cited by this paper
• Factors Associated with Indeterminate and False Negative Results of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube Test in Active Tuberculosis

  2012cited by this paper
• Interferon-Gamma Release Assay Performance in Pulmonary and Extrapulmonary Tuberculosis

  2012cited by this paper
• Factors Associated with the Performance of a Blood-Based Interferon-γ Release Assay in Diagnosing Tuberculosis

  2012cited by this paper
• Improving the timeframe between blood collection and interferon gamma release assay using T-Cell Xtend®.

  2012cited by this paper
• Interferon-gamma release assays for the diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

  2012cited by this paper
• Predictive factors for indeterminate result on the QuantiFERON test in an intermediate tuberculosis-burden country.

  2011cited by this paper
• Negative and positive predictive value of a whole-blood interferon-γ release assay for developing active tuberculosis: an update.

  2011cited by this paper
• Risk factors for false-negative results of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube assay in non-HIV-infected patients with culture-confirmed tuberculosis.

  2011cited by this paper
• Improved sensitivity of an interferon-gamma release assay (T-SPOT.TB™) in combination with tuberculin skin test for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis in the presence of HIV co-Infection

  2011cited by this paper
• Risk factors for false-negative results of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube assay in non-HIV-infected patients with culture-confirmed tuberculosis.

  2011cited by this paper
• Evaluation of a modified interferon-gamma release assay for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection in adult and paediatric populations that enables delayed processing

  2010cited by this paper
• Evidence-based comparison of commercial interferon-gamma release assays for detecting active TB: a metaanalysis.

  2010cited by this paper
• Indeterminate results of QuantiFERON TB-2G test performed in routine clinical practice

  2009cited by this paper
• QuantiFERON TB-2G test for patients with active tuberculosis stratified by age groups

  2009cited by this paper
• Age-associated increase in lifespan of naïve CD4 T cells contributes to T-cell homeostasis but facilitates development of functional defects

  2009cited by this paper
• High Prevalence of Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Patients in End-Stage Renal Disease on Hemodialysis: Comparison of QuantiFERON-TB GOLD, ELISPOT, and Tuberculin Skin Test

  2009cited by this paper
• Clinical utility of the QuantiFERON TB-2G test for elderly patients with active tuberculosis.

  2008cited by this paper
• Indeterminate test results of T-SPOTTM.TB performed under routine field conditions

  2008cited by this paper
• Prognostic Value of a T-CellBased, Interferon- Biomarker in Children with Tuberculosis Contact

  2008cited by this paper
• Comparison of Sensitivities of Two Commercial Gamma Interferon Release Assays for Pulmonary Tuberculosis

  2008cited by this paper
• Prognostic value of a T-cell-based, interferon-gamma biomarker in children with tuberculosis contact.

  2008cited by this paper
• Comparison of two commercial interferon-γ assays for diagnosing Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection

  2006cited by this paper
• Use of a T-cell-based test for detection of tuberculosis infection among immunocompromised patients

  2006cited by this paper
• Use of Commercial Interferon-γ Assays in Immunocompromised Patients for Tuberculosis Diagnosis

  2006cited by this paper
• Use of commercial interferon-gamma assays in immunocompromised patients for tuberculosis diagnosis.

  2006cited by this paper
• Age-related changes in lymphocyte development and function

  2004cited by this paper
• The tuberculin skin test.

  1993cited by this paper
• The tuberculin skin test.

  1972cited by this paper

• Diagnostic utility of quantitative interferon-gamma release assays in elderly patients with tuberculosis

  2026cites this paper
• The role of modern immunological tests in the differential diagnosis of paediatric tuberculosis

  2025cites this paper
• Comparison of interferon gamma release assays and tuberculin skin test performance for diagnosing Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection in the Pakistani population

  2025cites this paper
• The Recent Development in the Diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

  2025cites this paper
• CD8+ T cell response in QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus testing was associated with tuberculosis recurrence: a 2-year prospective study

  2024cites this paper
• Characteristics and treatment outcomes of patients with multi-drug-resistant tuberculosis at Abbassia Chest Hospital

  2024cites this paper
• Screening for Latent Tuberculosis in Migrants - Status Quo and Future Challenges.

  2024cites this paper
• Role of Culture Free Rapid ImmunoAssay (ELISA) and Genexpert (MTB/RIF) Technology in the Diagnosis of Tuberculosis

  2024cites this paper
• A cost-effectiveness evaluation of latent tuberculosis infection screening of a migrant population in Malaysia

  2023cites this paper
• Chapitre 4: Le diagnostic de l’infection tuberculeuse

  2023cites this paper
• Evaluation of a New Chemiluminescent Immunoassay-Based Interferon-Gamma Release Assay for Detection of Latent Tuberculosis Infection

  2023cites this paper
• Molecular identification of mycobacterial infections in nonsputum specimens

  2023cites this paper
• Screening for Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Adults: Updated Evidence Report and Systematic Review for the US Preventive Services Task Force.

  2023cites this paper
• Challenges and the Way forward in Diagnosis and Treatment of Tuberculosis Infection

  2023cites this paper
• Chapter 4: Diagnosis of tuberculosis infection

  2022cites this paper
• Factors Influencing False-Negative Results of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) in Active Tuberculosis and the Desirability of Resetting Cutoffs for Different Populations: A Retrospective Study

  2022cites this paper
• Indeterminate results of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube due to high Nil concentration and methodological exploration and improvement.

  2022cites this paper
• Update of the mechanism and characteristics of tuberculosis in chronic kidney disease

  2022cites this paper
• Screening for TB in Hospitalised Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease before Anti-TNF Therapy: Is QuantiFERON® Gold Testing Useful?

  2021cites this paper
• Is the New Interferon-Gamma Releasing Assay Beneficial for the Diagnosis of Latent and Active Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infections in Tertiary Care Setting?

  2021influential citation
• Interferon gamma release assays for detection of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis in older Hispanic people

  2021cites this paper
• Latent Tuberculosis Infection Among Individuals with Pulmonary Fibrosis in Rural China: A Screening Study

  2021cites this paper
• Interferon Gamma Release Assays for Latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis Detection in Elderly Hispanics

  2021cites this paper
• Systematic Evaluation of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Proteins for Antigenic Properties Identifies Rv1485 and Rv1705c as Potential Protective Subunit Vaccine Candidates

  2020cites this paper
• An Isolated Presentation of Ischemic Retinal Vasculitis by the Great Masquerader

  2020cites this paper
• Immune status of children with complications of BCG/BCG-M vaccination

  2020cites this paper
• Immune status of children with complications of BCG/BCG-M vaccination

  2020cites this paper
• Состояние иммунного статуса у детей с осложнениями вакцинации БЦЖ/БЦЖ-М

  2020cites this paper
• Screening for acquired latent tuberculosis in rheumatoid arthritis patients on tumor necrosis factor inhibition therapy in Southern California

  2020cites this paper
• High rate of indeterminate results of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold in-tube test, third generation, in patients with systemic vasculitis.

  2020cites this paper
• The Application of T.SPOT-TB Assay for Early Diagnosis of Active Tuberculosis in Chronic Kidney Disease Patients Receiving Immunosuppressive Treatment

  2020cites this paper
• Diagnosing Pulmonary Tuberculosis in the Elderly

  2020cites this paper
• Evolution of Interferon-Gamma Release Assay Results and Submillisievert Chest CT Findings among Close Contacts of Active Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients

  2020cites this paper
• High reproducibility of the interferon-gamma release assay T-SPOT.TB in serial testing

  2020cites this paper
• Epidemic characteristics and drug resistance of tuberculosis in North China

  2020cites this paper
• Prognostic value of the mitogen response in the interferon-γ release assay in patients with culture-confirmed tuberculosis.

  2019cites this paper
• Immunodiagnosis of active tuberculosis

  2019cites this paper
• Immune Biomarkers for Diagnosis and Treatment Monitoring of Tuberculosis: Current Developments and Future Prospects

  2019cites this paper
• Overweight, Obesity, and Older Age Favor Latent Tuberculosis Infection among Household Contacts in Low Tuberculosis-Incidence Settings within Panama.

  2019cites this paper
• The conundrum of indeterminate QuantiFERON-TB Gold results before anti-tumor necrosis factor initiation

  2018cites this paper
• Limites du test IGRA QuantiFERON®-TB-Gold in-tube, third generation pour le dépistage de la tuberculose latente au diagnostic de vascularite

  2018cites this paper
• The risk factor of false‐negative and false‐positive for T‐SPOT.TB in active tuberculosis

  2018cites this paper
• Comparative Evaluation of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube and QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus in Diagnosis of Latent Tuberculosis Infection in Immunocompromised Patients

  2018cites this paper
• Tuberculosis Specific Interferon-Gamma Production in a Current Refugee Cohort in Western Europe

  2018cites this paper
• Altered monocyte phenotypes but not impaired peripheral T cell immunity may explain susceptibility of the elderly to develop tuberculosis

  2018cites this paper
• Prospective Comparison of QFT-GIT and T-SPOT.TB Assays for Diagnosis of Active Tuberculosis

  2018cites this paper
• Difficult to Discern: Tuberculous Myositis with Poncet's Arthritis.

  2017cites this paper
• Comparison of cost-effectiveness between the quantiFERON-TB Gold-In-Tube and T-Spot tests for screening health-care workers for latent tuberculosis infection

  2017cites this paper
• Peripheral blood leukocyte immune responses in sarcoidosis

  2016cites this paper
• Tuberculosis in the Elderly

  1984cites this paper