<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>It is estimated that one third of the world’s population have latent tuberculosis infection and that this is a significant reservoir for future tuberculosis cases. Most cases occur within two years following initial infection. The identification of individuals with latent tuberculosis infection is difficult due to the lack of an ideal diagnostic assay and incomplete understanding of latent infection. Currently, there are three tests: the oldest tuberculin skin test, T-SPOT.TB and the latest QuantiFERON-Plus for the detection of <italic>Mycobacterium tuberculosis</italic> infection. The interpretation of the test results must be used in the conjunction with a patient’s epidemiological history, risk assessment, current clinical status, radiography and microbiological methods to ensure accurate diagnosis.</p>
</abstract>

It is estimated that one third of the world’s population have latent tuberculosis infection and that this is a significant reservoir for future tuberculosis cases. Most cases occur within two years following initial infection. The identification of individuals with latent tuberculosis infection is difficult due to the lack of an ideal diagnostic assay and incomplete understanding of latent infection. Currently, there are three tests: the oldest tuberculin skin test, T-SPOT.TB and the latest QuantiFERON-Plus for the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. The interpretation of the test results must be used in the conjunction with a patient’s epidemiological history, risk assessment, current clinical status, radiography and microbiological methods to ensure accurate diagnosis.

From Latent Tuberculosis Infection to Tuberculosis. News in Diagnostics (QuantiFERON-Plus)

Polish Journal of Microbiology

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

It is estimated that one third of the world’s population have latent tuberculosis infection and that this is a significant reservoir for future tuberculosis...

From Latent Tuberculosis Infection to Tuberculosis. News in Diagnostics (QuantiFERON-Plus)

Published Online: Mar 30, 2017

Page range: 5 - 8

Received: Aug 19, 2016

Accepted: Jan 27, 2017

DOI: https://doi.org/10.5604/pjm-2017-005

© 2017 DAGMARA I. BORKOWSKA et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.