Comparison of performance in two diagnostic methods for tuberculosis infection

Med Microbiol Immunol. 2009 Feb;198(1):33-7. doi: 10.1007/s00430-008-0102-5. Epub 2008 Nov 26.

Abstract

Performance of two diagnoses, T-SPOT.TB (T-SPOT) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold (QFT-G), was compared in Japanese subjects. Forty-seven confirmed tuberculosis patients and eighty-four healthy subjects were recruited. All samples were assessed for both T-SPOT and QFT-G, and the sensitivities and the specificities were compared between two methods. The sensitivity was 100% for T-SPOT, and 87.2% for QFT-G. The specificity was 83.3 and 98.8%, respectively. The overall agreement of two tests was substantially high (Kappa coefficient = 0.671). The sensitivity of T-SPOT appeared to be higher than that of QFT-G, whereas the specificity of T-SPOT was significantly lower than that of QFT-G. The difference in the performance between T-SPOT and QFT-G and biological relevance of each system in diagnosing M. tuberculosis infection should be further explored.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoassay*
  • Japan
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic*
  • Sensitivity and Specificity
  • Tuberculosis / diagnosis*
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Reagent Kits, Diagnostic