RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Evaluation of QuantiFERON-TB Gold Assay in detecting latent and active infection with mycobacterium tuberculosis in group of Egyptian children JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP p4981 VO 38 IS Suppl 55 A1 Maha Ghanem A1 Nefesa Refaat A1 Heba Rashed YR 2011 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p4981.abstract AB Background: QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube [QFG-IT] showed good diagnostic accuracy for active and latent TB in adults; limited studies have been performed in children, none in Egypt.Methods: In a hospital-based prospective study, diagnostic accuracy of the tuberculin skin testing (TST) and QFG-IT were assessed in a cohort of 112 children (mean age 6.98±4.44, range 0.7-16); control not exposed (n=20), latent tuberculosis (n=42), active tuberculosis (n=50).Results: In confirmed active TB, TST was positive in 24 out of 26 cases (92.31%), compared to 37 out of 50 cases (74%) for QFG-IT. None of the 2 tests performed significantly better than the other (p=0.109).In latent TB infection (LTBI), TST was positive in 24 out of 26 cases (92.31%), compared to 37 out of 50 cases (74%) for QFG-IT. Despite that QFG-IT performed better than TST; this was not statisticaly significanct (p=0.062).Significantly higher number of positive QFG-IT and TST were seen in children older than 5 years compared to younger children (p=0.009, and 0.007, consecutively). The 2 tests did not show significant differences between those who had confirmed pulmonary and extra-pulmonary TB (p>0.05).The overall agreement between the 2 tests was good (84.21%, κ 0.677).Conclusions: QTG-IT did not show higher diagnostic value in confirmed active childhood TB. Both QFG-IT and TST perform better in children older than 5 years than in younger population. Positive QFG-IT supports the diagnosis of TB in TST positive children. Negative QFG-IT does not exclude active TB. If used for diagnosis of LTBI, QFG-IT could significantly reduce the numbers of children receiving chemoprophylaxis.