Description
What is a TB Gold test?
QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT) is a simple blood test that aids in the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacteria which causes tuberculosis (TB). QFT is an interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) release assay, commonly known as an IGRA, and is a modern alternative to the tuberculin skin test (TST, PPD or Mantoux).
What do you do if TB Gold test is positive?
Most people with a positive TB blood test have latent TB infection. To be sure, your doctor will examine you and do a chest x-ray. You may need other tests to see if you have latent TB infection or active TB disease.
How reliable is TB Gold test?
The overall sensitivity for active TB was 87.5%, ranging from 62.5% in children 25–36 months old to 100% in children older than 49 months. The overall specificity for active TB was 93.6%. Among the 481 children tested for LTBI screening, 38 scored positive and all but 2 had at least one risk factor for TB infection.
What if TB Gold test is negative?
Negative – suggests that TB infection is unlikely. Indeterminate – suggests the need for further investigations or repeat testing.
How long is a TB Gold test good for?
Although QFT is not recommended for confirmation of TST results, QFT can be used for surveillance <12 months after a negative TST, if the initial QFT is negative.
How do you read TB Gold test results?
A positive test result suggests that M. tuberculosis infection is likely; a negative result suggests that infection is unlikely. An indeterminate result indicates an uncertain likelihood of M. tuberculosis infection.
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