Tuberculosis
Czas oczekiwania: 24 h
Waiting time: 24 h
When should the test be performed?
Quantiferon-TB Gold Plus is an advanced, sensitive, and specific indirect test used to detect latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Indications for performing the test include:
- Contact with a person infected with tuberculosis bacilli
- Suspected latent TB infection in individuals at risk (immunocompromised patients, cancer patients, people with HIV)
- Prior to initiating immunosuppressive therapy
- Diagnostics in individuals with a positive tuberculin skin test (TST)
- Screening of healthcare workers and other professionals at risk of exposure
Test description
The Quantiferon-TB Gold Plus test measures the release of interferon-gamma by T lymphocytes stimulated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific antigens. It uses the ESAT-6 and CFP-10 antigens, which are absent in BCG vaccine strains and most non-tuberculous mycobacteria (except M. szulgai, M. marinum, M. kansasii).
- Unlike the tuberculin skin test (TST), the Quantiferon-TB Gold Plus test is not subject to subjective interpretation and does not produce false positives due to prior BCG vaccination
- It offers higher sensitivity and specificity
- The analysis is performed on peripheral blood samples, eliminating the need for multiple patient visits