Comparison of interferon gamma–inducible protein-10 and interferon gamma–based QuantiFERON TB Gold assays with tuberculin skin test in HIV-infected subjects

• Published in: Diagnostic microbiology and infectious disease Vol. 71; no. 3; pp. 236 - 243
• Main Authors: Syed Ahamed Kabeer, Basirudeen, Sikhamani, Rajasekaran, Raja, Alamelu
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.11.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Biological and medical sciences; CD4 Lymphocyte Count; Chemokine CXCL10 - blood; Coinfection - diagnosis; Diagnosis; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; HIV infections; HIV Infections - complications; Human immunodeficiency virus; Human viral diseases; Humans; Infectious Disease; Infectious diseases; Interferon gamma–inducible protein-10; interferon-gamma; Interferon-gamma - blood; Internal Medicine; Male; Medical sciences; Microbiology; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; QuantiFERON-TB Gold in-tube; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic; Reproducibility of Results; Sensitivity and Specificity; tuberculin; Tuberculin skin test; Tuberculin Test; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis - complications; Tuberculosis - diagnosis; Viral diseases; Viral diseases of the lymphoid tissue and the blood. Aids; Virology; Young Adult; Interferon gamma–inducible protein-10; Tuberculosis; Human immunodeficiency virus; Diagnosis; QuantiFERON-TB Gold in-tube; Tuberculin skin test; Immunopathology; Cytokine; Retroviridae; Interferon gamma-inducible protein-10; AIDS; Immune deficiency; Lentivirus; Protein; Virus; Infection; Viral disease; Gamma interferon; Skin test
• ISSN: 0732-8893; 1879-0070; 1879-0070
• DOI: 10.1016/j.diagmicrobio.2011.07.012

We aimed to compare the positivity of the QuantiFERON TB gold in-tube (QFT-IT antigens) specific interferon gamma (IFN-γ/QFT-IT) and IFN-γ–inducible protein-10 (IP-10/QFT-IT) assays with tuberculin skin test (TST) among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)–infected individuals in a TB endemic setting. A total of 180 HIV-infected subjects, with no evidence of active TB, were recruited. IFN-γ and IP-10 levels specific to QFT-IT antigens were measured in plasma from QFT-IT tubes. The overall positivity of TST at the 5-mm cut-off point (19%) was significantly lower when compared to IFN-γ/QFT-IT (38%) and IP-10/QFT-IT (45%) assays. The positivity of IP-10/QFT-IT was significantly higher than that of IFN-γ/QFT-IT (P = 0.038). Indeterminate results for IFN-γ/QFT-IT and IP-10/QFT-IT were more frequent in subjects with CD4 count <100 cells/μL than in those with >100 cells/μL. IFN-γ/QFT-IT (9%) yielded significantly higher number of indeterminate results than IP-10/QFT-IT (5%). The frequency of these responses is higher than the proportion of individuals with positive TST results. However, 6 IFN-γ/QFT-IT– or IP-10/QFT-IT–negative subjects were positive for TST at the 5-mm cut-off point. Prospective and prognostic studies are required to clarify the significance of these data.