Latent tuberculosis: which test in which situation?

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State: Public
Version: Final published version
Serval ID
serval:BIB_E71542077F1C
Type
Article: article from journal or magazin.
Publication sub-type
Review (review): journal as complete as possible of one specific subject, written based on exhaustive analyses from published work.
Collection
Publications
Institution
Title
Latent tuberculosis: which test in which situation?
Journal
Swiss Medical Weekly
Author(s)
Zellweger J.P.
ISSN
1424-7860
Publication state
Published
Issued date
2008
Volume
138
Number
3-4
Pages
31-37
Language
english
Notes
Publication types: Journal Article ; Review
Abstract
Detection of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is a cost-effective procedure in patients at high risk of developing tuberculosis later and who could benefit from preventive treatment. The commonest situation where screening is indicated is the search for infected contacts of an index case with pulmonary tuberculosis. As a screening procedure the current tendency is to replace the time-honoured tuberculin skin test by one of the new blood tests measuring the release of interferon gamma by sensitised T lymphocytes after stimulation by specific peptides from M. tuberculosis. The main advantage of the new tests is the absence of interference with BCG and non-tuberculous mycobacteria, which confers high specificity on the test. This allows a more selective choice of persons for whom preventive treatment is indicated. Some controversial issues remain, such as sensitivity in children and immunocompromised subjects, the predictive value of the blood test and interpretation of possible changes in test results over time. The technical aspects required for performance of the tests must be considered.
Keywords
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, Humans, Immunosuppressive Agents/adverse effects, Interferon-gamma/metabolism, Mass Screening, T-Lymphocytes/metabolism, Tuberculin Test, Tuberculosis/diagnosis
Pubmed
Web of science
Create date
29/01/2009 22:14
Last modification date
20/08/2019 16:10
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