Some significant findings......................."• Although this...

Some significant findings.......................


"• Although this was a conference generically on IFN-
assays for TB, the vast majority of reports related
specifically to QFT testing, especially in routine clinical reports. This reflects the fact that QFT is approved in
the USA and Japan, and along with QFT’s simplicity and accuracy, has led to its more widespread use.
• It was universally acknowledged that the association of QFT results and TB risk in contact studies and serial
screening was far superior compared to that for the TST. This has now been demonstrated in many
thousands of subjects, worldwide.
• The clear benefit of QFT’s high specificity in BCG vaccinated populations.
• Clinical studies from India, Russia, Japan and Australia, evaluating QFT in healthcare workers (HCWs),
clearly demonstrated the benefits of the test to effectively screen for TB and highlighted that this group of
individuals is at increased risk for TB infection.
• QFT utility was demonstrated in immune-suppressed populations, including persons with HIV, children
(including those less than one year of age), persons with haematological malignancies, renal dialysis
patients, and those undergoing immunosuppressive therapy prior to and after anti-TNF- therapy. In all
situations, QFT more accurately detected active TB and was more closely associated with risk factors for
LTBI, compared to the TST.
• An additional benefit of the QFT test that was highlighted in that people are more likely to accept therapy as
a result of using a more accurate test, thus improving patient compliance to therapy. Many people will not
accept therapy if the TST is used.
• The level of IFN-
response to the TB antigens may be meaningful for estimating the risk of progression to
active TB. This further explores the utility of QFT in TB control