PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Rizwan Ahmed
AU  - Deborah Gascoyne- Binzi
AU  - Sandy Moffitt
AU  - Timothy Collyns
AU  - John Watson
TI  - Interferon-gamma release assays (IGRA) for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in children
DP  - 2011 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - p4980
VI  - 38
IP  - Suppl 55
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p4980.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p4980.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38
AB  - Background: IGRA, QuantiFERON®-TB Gold in-tube (QFT-GIT) & T-SPOT.TB®(T-Spot), are widely used to detect LBTI in adults. There is paucity of data regarding their use in children (<16 yrs old), but their use in this group is increasing [1]. One of the key reported problems in children is high incidence of indeterminate results. Studies in adults have shown this can be minimized with early incubation of QFT-GIT blood samples. In Leeds there is close co-ordination between medical & nursing staff collecting bloods, and the local laboratory processing them with prompt transport of samples and the aim to incubate samples within 4 hours of collection.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all the IGRA tests performed in children, for contact & new entrant screening, in our TB service between 2008 & 2010, to look at our indeterminate rates.Results: A total of 188 IGRA tests were performed. T-Spot was undertaken almost exclusively in children under 1 year. None of our cohort had indeterminate IGRA results with QFT-GIT or T-Spot.View this table:Table 1None of the children were diagnosed with active TB (multiple samples were sent for TB culture from 4 children).Conclusion: A definitive IGRA result is achievable in otherwise healthy children with close liaison between clinical and microbiology staff, prompt transfer of blood samples and incubating QFT-GIT samples within 4 hours of collection.Reference:1. Ling, D.I. et al. Immune-based diagnostics for TB in children:what is the evidence?Paed Resp Reviews. 2011;12(1):9-15.