Interferon-gamma release assays have been developed to improve the diagnosis of tuberculosis. Here, Colin Walker reviews current research which shows that two commercial kits offer considerably improved specificity over the established tuberculin skin test.
Tuberculosis is the world’s second most common cause of morbidity from infectious disease after human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS). In 2005, there were 8.8 million new cases of active tuberculosis (TB) and an estimated 1.6 million deaths.1
A key factor in the spread of TB is the number of asymptomatic individuals with latent disease, who are a reservoir of future cases.2 Evidence suggests that treatment of latent infection reduces the risk of progression to active TB, especially in high-risk groups such as patients infected with HIV.3,4
Intervention against latent infection may have a key role in controlling the spread of TB.5 The World Health Organization (WHO) has produced a strategy – The Global Plan to Stop TB 2006–2015 – which could improve diagnostic tests, make them available for use in high-prevalence countries and introduce chemoprophylaxis to reduce the incidence of TB.6
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