Beginning November 3, 2003, the San Francisco TB Control program in collaboration with the Department of Public Health Laboratory will begin using the QuantiFERON-TB Test (QFT) to screen selected patients for TB, in place of the tuberculin skin test (TST). The QFT is an FDA approved blood test for use as a diagnostic aid in the detection of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). The QFT test will initially be available through the TB control program, and DPH is planning expansion of availability to all Health Department clinics in San Francisco currently providing TB testing.
