Evolución del estudio de la tuberculosis mediante Quantiferon Gold

Abstract

Tuberculosis is an infection caused by species of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. It is a contagious disease with a high morbidity and mortality. It is mandatory to notify it, and its monitoring is carried out by the National Network for Epidemiological Surveillance, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC), and the European Regional Office of the WHO.

The usual technique for diagnosis is the tuberculin test. This includes the intradermal injection of a purified protein derivative (PPD), which triggers a hypersensitivity reaction if the individual has been in contact with the substance previously.

In order to provide a more specific and safe diagnosis, new diagnostic methods have been developed based on the in vitro quantification of the cellular immune response, known generically as ‘interferon gamma release assays’ (IGRA), which detect the release of interferon-gamma by the sensitised T cells when subjected to different mycobacterial antigens.

There are currently two IGRAs being marketed for the in vitro diagnosis of tuberculosis infection QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (Cellestis^®, QIAGEN) and T-SPOT.TB (Oxford Immunotec^®). The aim is to present a short review on the use of the Quantiferon method in the diagnosis of tuberculosis infection.