The ability to identify individuals
who are truly infected with M. tuberculosis and who are at risk for disease will tremendously simplify the process of tuberculosis elimination in the United States.
- Institute of Medicine

Geiter L, "Ending Neglect:  The elimination of Tuberculosis in the United States", 1st ed., Washington DC:  National Academy Press 2000.

TST & T-SPOT.TB Overview

The Tuberculin Skin Test The T-SPOT.TB Test

  • Requires two patient visits
  • Single blood test
  • Results in 48-72 hours
  • Next day results 
  • Limited sensitivity,
    especially in the immunosuppressed¹
  • Sensitivity of 95.6%²
    Reliable in the immunosuppressed²
  •  Limited specificity
  • Specificity of 97.1%³
  • Cross reacts with BCG vaccine
  • Not affected by BCG vaccine
  • Cross reacts with most non-tuberculosis mycobacteria 
  • No cross reaction to most common non-tuberculosis mycobacteria
  • Subjectivity with interpretation of results
  • Positive and negative controls run with every patient

 

¹Lee J et al., Comparison of two commercial interferon-γ assays for diagnosing Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection.  Eur Resp J 2006 28: 24-30.

²,³T-SPOT.TB Package Insert

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