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Tuberculin skin tests and interferon-γ release assays in the diagnosis of tuberculosis infection
Marie Yan, Jonathon R. Campbell, Theodore K. Marras and Sarah K. Brode
CMAJ May 08, 2023 195 (18) E650-E651; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1503/cmaj.221570
Marie Yan
Department of Medicine (Yan, Marras, Brode), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Clinician Investigator Program (Yan), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC; Departments of Medicine, and Global and Public Health (Campbell), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University; McGill International Tuberculosis Centre (Campbell), Montréal, Que.; Division of Respirology (Marras, Brode), University Health Network, Toronto, Ont.; Division of Respiratory Medicine (Brode), West Park Healthcare Centre, Toronto, Ont.
MDJonathon R. Campbell
Department of Medicine (Yan, Marras, Brode), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Clinician Investigator Program (Yan), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC; Departments of Medicine, and Global and Public Health (Campbell), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University; McGill International Tuberculosis Centre (Campbell), Montréal, Que.; Division of Respirology (Marras, Brode), University Health Network, Toronto, Ont.; Division of Respiratory Medicine (Brode), West Park Healthcare Centre, Toronto, Ont.
PhDTheodore K. Marras
Department of Medicine (Yan, Marras, Brode), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Clinician Investigator Program (Yan), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC; Departments of Medicine, and Global and Public Health (Campbell), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University; McGill International Tuberculosis Centre (Campbell), Montréal, Que.; Division of Respirology (Marras, Brode), University Health Network, Toronto, Ont.; Division of Respiratory Medicine (Brode), West Park Healthcare Centre, Toronto, Ont.
MD MScSarah K. Brode
Department of Medicine (Yan, Marras, Brode), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ont.; Clinician Investigator Program (Yan), University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC; Departments of Medicine, and Global and Public Health (Campbell), Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University; McGill International Tuberculosis Centre (Campbell), Montréal, Que.; Division of Respirology (Marras, Brode), University Health Network, Toronto, Ont.; Division of Respiratory Medicine (Brode), West Park Healthcare Centre, Toronto, Ont.
MD MPHIn this issue
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Tuberculin skin tests and interferon-γ release assays in the diagnosis of tuberculosis infection
Marie Yan, Jonathon R. Campbell, Theodore K. Marras, Sarah K. Brode
CMAJ May 2023, 195 (18) E650-E651; DOI: 10.1503/cmaj.221570
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- Article
- Tuberculin skin tests (TSTs) and interferon-γ release assays (IGRAs) are intended for the diagnosis of tuberculosis (TB) infection, not active disease
- The primary goal of testing for TB infection is to identify people who would benefit from preventive treatment
- The positive predictive values for progression to TB disease for TSTs and IGRAs are similar, and the tests can be used interchangeably, with some exceptions
- To enhance diagnostic certainty, TSTs and IGRAs may be performed sequentially
- Web-based tools can be used to quantify the risk-benefit profile of TB preventive treatment
- Acknowledgement
- Footnotes
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