QuantiFERON test interpretation in patients receiving immunosuppressive agents: an alert. Issue 4 (6th April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Belliere, Julie; Blancher, Antoine
• Is Part Of: European respiratory journal. Volume 49:Issue 4(2017)
• Publication Date: 2017-04-06
• Subjects: Respiratory organs -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Respiration -- Periodicals; 616.2
• DOI: 10.1183/13993003.02102-2016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0903-1936

Abstract

Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) diagnosis in immune-mediated inflammatory diseases is complex because of the patient characteristics and the imperfection of available tests [1]. Functional T-cell assays are exposed to bias at several levels (manufacturing, pre-analytical, analytical and immunological) [2] and, unfortunately, the lack of a gold standard precludes higher diagnostic accuracy. However, the QuantiFERON GOLD In-tube test (QFT; QIAGEN, Hilden, Germany) represents a largely used and modern alternative to the tuberculin skin test. Even if performance specifications of QFT are of great interest (specificity of 99% and sensitivity of 84%) [3], some patients remain with an "indeterminate result" because of failed positive control corresponding to the incapacity of lymphocytes to secrete interferon (IFN)-γ after 24 h of stimulation by phytohemagglutinin A (PHA). Caution to patients with negative QuantiFERON and low mitogen response receiving immunosuppressive agents http://ow.ly/MKsP308O3jo