PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Mason, Martina
AU  - Dickens, Jennifer
AU  - Aguilar, Diana
AU  - Hardingham, Gail
AU  - Phillips, Russell
TI  - The role of interferon-γ release assay (IGRA) testing in a UK teaching hospital
DP  - 2011 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - p307
VI  - 38
IP  - Suppl 55
4099  - https://publications.ersnet.org//content/38/Suppl_55/p307.short
4100  - https://publications.ersnet.org//content/38/Suppl_55/p307.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38
AB  - Background: IGRAs including T-SPOT (T-SPOT.TB®) have recently been adopted for the diagnosis of latent (LTBI) infection with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB). They may also have a role in ruling out active tuberculosis; however a recent meta-analysis has suggested that its specificity may not be high enough to exclude active disease [1].Aims and objectives: The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the use of the T-SPOT assay at a UK University Teaching Hospital to determine i) the indications for which it is being utilised and ii) whether its use led to any change in management.Methods: Patients having T-SPOT performed between 09/2008 and 02/2010 were retrospectively identified from our TB database. Information regarding test indication, patient demographics and imaging results was collected from case notes and picture archiving and communications system (PACS). Change in patient management as a result of the T-SPOT was noted (as judged by two clinicians).Results:View this table:Forty-three (45%) of T-SPOT tests were performed to exclude LTBI and 53 (55%) to exclude active disease. The T-SPOT result led to a change in management in 42 (44%) of cases. To the best of our knowledge no patients with a negative T-SPOT result were subsequently diagnosed with active MTB infection.Conclusion: In addition to excluding LTBI, T-SPOT can be a useful investigative tool in helping clarify the clinical picture in cases of suspected active TB.Reference:1. M. Sester et al. Eur Respir J 2011;37:100-11