Usefulness of the whole-blood interferon-gamma release assay for diagnosis of extrapulmonary tuberculosis

Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 2009 Feb;63(2):182-7. doi: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2008.10.013. Epub 2008 Dec 12.

Abstract

The whole-blood interferon-gamma enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (QuantiFERON-TB Gold [QFT-G]; Cellestis, Carnegie, Australia) has been studied mainly for diagnosing active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) or latent TB. We prospectively evaluated its diagnostic usefulness in patients suspected with extrapulmonary TB (EP-TB). Of the 100 adult patients with suspected EP-TB, 43 were classified as "confirmed" EP-TB and 5 as "probable" EP-TB. Of the 48 with EP-TB, 27 (56%) were diagnosed with TB lymphadenitis and 11 (17%) with skeletal TB. The overall sensitivity and specificity of the assay were 69% (95% confidence interval [CI(95)], 53-81%) and 82% (CI(95), 69-91%), respectively. Among 44 patients presented with cervical lymphadenopathy, the QFT-G assay showed 86% (CI(95), 64-97%) sensitivity and 87% (CI(95), 66-97%) specificity, whereas in 28 with skeletal involvement, the sensitivity and specificity of the assay were 45% (CI(95), 17-77%) and 81% (CI(95), 54-96%), respectively. These suboptimal diagnostic performances suggest that the QFT-G assay alone is not sufficient for the diagnosis of EP-TB.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / methods*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Interferon-gamma / blood*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / genetics
  • Mycobacterium tuberculosis / isolation & purification
  • Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Predictive Value of Tests
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tuberculosis / diagnosis*
  • Tuberculosis / immunology*
  • Tuberculosis / microbiology
  • Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / diagnosis
  • Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / immunology
  • Tuberculosis, Lymph Node / microbiology

Substances

  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
  • Interferon-gamma