Tebruegge, M;
Curtis, N;
Clifford, V;
Fernandez-Turienzo, C;
Klein, N;
Fidler, K;
Mansour, S;
... Morris-Jones, S; + view all
(2018)
Seasonal variation in the performance of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube assays used for the diagnosis of tuberculosis infection.
Tuberculosis
, 110
pp. 26-29.
10.1016/j.tube.2018.03.002.
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Abstract
This study aimed to determine whether there are seasonal changes in the performance of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-GIT) assays, an interferon-gamma release assay widely used for the diagnosis of tuberculosis infection. Results of 31,932 QFT-GIT assays performed at a large independent, accredited diagnostic service provider in London, UK over a 4.5-year-period were analysed. The proportion of positive results was significantly lower in autumn (14.8%) than in spring (16.0%; p = 0.0366) and summer (17.5%; p < 0.0001), but similar to winter (15.2%; p = 0.4711). The proportion of indeterminate results was significantly higher in autumn (8.2%) than in spring (6.2%; p < 0.0001), summer (4.8%; p < 0.0001), and winter (6.2%; p < 0.0001). The highest proportions of indeterminate results were observed in October (8.4%) and November (8.8%), the lowest in June (4.5%). Our data show that significant seasonal variation occurs in the performance of QFT-GIT assays in a temperate climate setting. Potential underlying mechanisms, including host and environmental factors, are discussed.
| Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Title: | Seasonal variation in the performance of QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube assays used for the diagnosis of tuberculosis infection |
| Open access status: | An open access version is available from UCL Discovery |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.tube.2018.03.002 |
| Publisher version: | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tube.2018.03.002 |
| Language: | English |
| Additional information: | This version is the author accepted manuscript. For information on re-use, please refer to the publisher’s terms and conditions. |
| Keywords: | Science & Technology, Life Sciences & Biomedicine, Immunology, Microbiology, Respiratory System, Tuberculosis, Interferon-gamma release assay, Performance, Indeterminate, Seasonality |
| UCL classification: | UCL UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL GOS Institute of Child Health UCL > Provost and Vice Provost Offices > School of Life and Medical Sciences > Faculty of Population Health Sciences > UCL GOS Institute of Child Health > Infection, Immunity and Inflammation Dept |
| URI: | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10063565 |
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