What Are the Differences Between the Tuberculin Skin Test and the QuantiFERON-TB Gold Test?

Details

• Personal Author:
  Green-McKenzie J ; Nguyen MQ
• Description:
  Despite the new advances in the diagnosis of latent and active TB infection, culture remains the gold standard for confirming TB infection. The diagnosis of active TB cannot be made on the basis of an immunological test only. Appropriate microbiological investigation and alternate diagnostic procedures such as chest radiograph and review of symptoms are still needed to adequately diagnose individuals suspected of having active TB. The QFT-G test shows promise and is being increasingly used in occupational settings. It is indicated for diagnosing Mycobacterium TB infection, both TB disease and latent TB4. The relative ease of testing makes it more desirable than the TST and its sensitivity and specificity are encouraging. It does have its own disadvantages including giving indeterminate results and inaccurate results if improper collection and testing methods are used. However, given that its use is becoming more widespread in occupational and other health care settings as experiences are reported and its use studied, we will be able to see its real impact over time. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Communicable Diseases Diagnosis Occupational Health Safety Tuberculosis
• Keywords:
  Clinical Diagnosis Clinical Tests Diagnostic Tests Infectious Diseases TB
• ISSN:
  1076-2752
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  California ; OSHA Region 3 ; OSHA Region 9 ; Pennsylvania
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Volume:
  54
• Issue:
  9
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20053471
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Med 2012 Sep; 54(9):1177-1178
• Email:
  minh.nguyen@ushworks.com
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2012
• Performing Organization:
  University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20050701
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
• End Date:
  20290630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:ebd4daff33a72abfefaab3e91010deb552ae27556816782322d4968e65092fd52dd4dcf3a2c9e61deafd14aca8d3ba624fa8455bf41cc8c2f968a896aaffaf96
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/216218/cdc_216218_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 50.18 KB ]