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Comparison of Quantiferon‐TB Gold With Tuberculin Skin Test for Detecting Latent Tuberculosis Infection Prior to Liver Transplantation
Author(s) -
Manuel O.,
Humar A.,
Preiksaitis J.,
Doucette K.,
Shokoples S.,
Peleg A. Y.,
Cobos I.,
Kumar D.
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
american journal of transplantation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.89
H-Index - 188
eISSN - 1600-6143
pISSN - 1600-6135
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-6143.2007.02011.x
Subject(s) - medicine , quantiferon , latent tuberculosis , tuberculin , concordance , liver transplantation , tuberculosis , transplantation , gastroenterology , immunology , mycobacterium tuberculosis , pathology
Screening for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is recommended prior to organ transplantation. The Quantiferon‐TB Gold assay (QFT‐G) may be more accurate than the tuberculin skin test (TST) in the detection of LTBI. We prospectively compared the results of QFT‐G to TST in patients with chronic liver disease awaiting transplantation. Patients were screened for LTBI with both the QFT‐G test and a TST. Concordance between test results and predictors of a discordant result were determined. Of the 153 evaluable patients, 37 (24.2%) had a positive TST and 34 (22.2%) had a positive QFT‐G. Overall agreement between tests was 85.1% (κ= 0.60, p < 0.0001). Discordant test results were seen in 12 TST positive/QFT‐G negative patients and in 9 TST negative/QFT‐G positive patients. Prior BCG vaccination was not associated with discordant test results. Twelve patients (7.8%), all with a negative TST, had an indeterminate result of the QFT‐G and this was more likely in patients with a low lymphocyte count (p = 0.01) and a high MELD score (p = 0.001). In patients awaiting liver transplantation, both the TST and QFT‐G were comparable for the diagnosis of LTBI with reasonable concordance between tests. Indeterminate QFT‐G result was more likely in those with more advanced liver disease.