Accuracy of immunodiagnostic tests for active tuberculosis using single and combined results: A multicenter TBNET-study

Delia Goletti, Carrara Stefania, Ornella Butera, Massimo Amicosante, Martin Ernst, Ilaria Sauzullo, Vincenzo Vullo, Daniela Cirillo, Emanuele Borroni, Roumiana Markova, Roumiana Drenska, José Dominguez, Irene Latorre, Claudio Angeletti, Assunta Navarra, Nicola Petrosillo, Francesco Nicola Lauria, Giuseppe Ippolito, Giovanni Battista Migliori, Christoph LangeEnrico Girardi

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Abstract

Background: The clinical application of IFN-γ release assays (IGRAs) has recently improved the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection. In a multicenter study of the Tuberculosis Network European Trialsgroup (TBNET) we aimed to ascertain in routine clinical practice the accuracy of a novel assay using selected peptides encoded in the mycobacterial genomic region of difference (RD) 1 for the diagnosis of active tuberculosis in comparison with tuberculin skin test (TST), QuantiFERON-TB GOLD In-Tube (Cellestis Ltd., Carnegie, Australia) and T-SPOT.TB (Oxfordimmunotec, Abingdon, UK). Principal Findings: 425 individuals from 6 different European centres were prospectively enrolled. We found that sensitivity of the novel test, TST, QuantiFERON-TB GOLD In-Tube and T-SPOT.TB was respectively 73.1%, 85.3%, 78.1%, and 85.2%; specificity was respectively 70.6%, 48.0%, 61.9% and 44.3%; positive likelihood ratios were respectively 2.48, 1.64, 2.05, and 1.53; negative likelihood ratios were respectively 0.38, 0.31, 0.35, 0.33. Sensitivity of TST combined with the novel test, QuantiFERON-TB GOLD In-Tube and T-SPOT.TB increased up to 92.4%, 97.7% and 97.1%, respectively. The likelihood ratios of combined negative results of TST with, respectively, the novel test, QuantiFERON-TB GOLD In-Tube and T-SPOT.TB were 0.19, 0.07 and 0.10. Conclusions: The assay based on RD1 selected peptides has similar accuracy for active tuberculosis compared with TST and commercial IGRAs. Then, independently of the spectrum of antigens used in the assays to elicit mycobacterial specific immune responses, the novel test, IGRAs, and the TST do not allow an accurate identification of active tuberculosis in clinical practice. However, the combined use of the novel assay or commercial IGRAs with TST may allow exclusion of tuberculosis. © 2008 Goletti et al.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbere3417
JournalPLoS ONE
Volume3
Issue number10
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 15 Oct 2008

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