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Does tuberculin skin testing (TST) boost in vitro measures of TB-specific cell mediated immunity?

Authors
Weissman-DN; Khaled-G; Nash-E; Bryant-J; Henry-S; Shi-J; D'Amato-J; Pisani-M; Janotka-E; Edberg-S; O'Connor-P; Russi-M; Cain-H; Tanoue-L; Friedman-LN
Source
Am J Respir Crit Care Med 2003 Apr; 167(7):A866
Link
http://www.atsjournals.org/toc/ajrccm/167/7
NIOSHTIC No.
20023111
Abstract
A new FDA-cleared test for latent M. tuberculosis (TB) infection, Quantiferon-TB (QF), measures TB-induced secretion of interferon-gamma (IFN) by peripheral blood cells in vitro. We questioned whether TST responses could be enhanced by TST placement in individuals that were ultimately TST-negative by two-step testing. We analyzed 9 subjects with past medical histories of TST reactivity who were subsequently negative on two-step TST testing. Blood was obtained for QF at baseline and at the time of second TST. Using recommended strategies for interpretation, no QF tests were positive either at baseline or on repeat testing. Three initial QF and 2 repeat QF tests were scored as negative due to a requirement that IFN secretion stimulated by M. avium antigen be no more than 10% greater than TB antigen-induced IFN secretion even though other requirements for test positivity were achieved. Mean levels of IFN secretion to TB antigen expressed either as absolute units or as percentage of mitogen-induced secretion did not significantly increase on repeat testing. In this population, placement of a TST did not enhance subsequent QF responses. The sensitivity of QF for detecting immunity to TB may be decreased by current guidelines for interpretation of reactivity to M. avium antigen.
Keywords
Skin-tests; In-vitro-studies; Blood-cells; Blood-sampling; Blood-tests; Antigens; Infectious-diseases
CODEN
AJCMED
Publication Date
20030401
Document Type
Abstract; Conference/Symposia Proceedings
Email Address
DWeissman@cdc.gov
Funding Amount
40000
Funding Type
Contract
Fiscal Year
2003
Identifying No.
Contract-200-2001-08003
Issue of Publication
7
ISSN
1073-449X
NIOSH Division
HELD
Priority Area
Disease and Injury: Infectious Diseases
Source Name
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, 2003 International Conference, The American Thoracic Society, Seattle, WA, May 16-21, 2003
State
WV; CT
Performing Organization
Milford Hospital, Milford, Connecticut
Page last reviewed: April 12, 2019
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Education and Information Division