Part of the uptake of QFTG IT for testing Tb is dependent on word spreading.
CST has relied on articles published in peer reviewed journals by those using the test.
Here is a recent article - from Romania - but published in the very prestigous Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology.
Word is getting out there. Note the conclusions - in patients with Renal Failure that you are testing for Latent Tb - use IGRA (= Quantiferon test) rather than the skin test (and dont forget about its use in active Tb.
Every week I go to presentations and see the common use of Quantiferon tests for Tb in daily medical practice.
We know that without much effort - QFT has more than 15% of the Australian and Swiss Market for Tb testing (those are figures from about 18 months ago and the figure is now likely to be much higher - I seem to recall a figure of 30% of the Australian market). With 2-3% of the world market - think of sales when it has 15% of the world market.
Clin J Am Soc Nephrol. 2010 Apr 22. [Epub ahead of print]
Diagnosis of Tuberculosis in Dialysis Patients: Current Strategy. Segall L, Covic A.
"Dr. C. I. Parhon" Hospital, University of Medicine and Pharmacy "Gr. T. Popa," IaSi, Romania.
Abstract Patients with ESRD undergoing chronic dialysis are much more prone to develop tuberculosis (TB) than the general population. In these patients, the diagnosis of TB disease is often difficult because of prevailing extrapulmonary involvement and nonspecific symptoms. The prevalence of latent TB infection (LTBI) in ESRD patients is elevated, and those who become infected are at high risk of developing active disease. Therefore, screening for LTBI in this population is recommended, aiming to prevent progression to active TB and secondary contamination of others. The tuberculin skin test (TST), the classic diagnostic tool for LTBI, has several major drawbacks, including poor sensitivity (because of a high prevalence of anergy in dialysis patients) and specificity [with false-positive tests in those vaccinated with bacille Calmette-Gurin (BCG)]. In the past 10 years or so, new immunological tests using IFN-gamma release assays (IGRAs) have become available and have shown superior sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of TB compared with the TST in several studies, some very recent ones including ESRD patients. Therefore, current strategy in dialysis patients should use these tests instead of TST for LTBI screening and as an aid for the diagnosis of active TB.
CST Price at posting:
$3.02 Sentiment: Buy Disclosure: Held
