A negative result means that there is not active or latent tuberculosis infection. In some people, an inconclusive result may occasionally occur. The QuantiFERON-TB Gold blood test will come back with either a positive or a negative result. This is why it is important to speak with your provider about this specific blood test to see if it would be right for you. The CDC, however, has approved the use of this blood test as a screening tool for virtually all individuals based on current data, even if the results from the test have not been studied.
Women who are pregnant are also not considered good candidates for this blood test. This includes people who have a confirmed diagnosis of diabetes, renal failure, certain cancers and blood disorders, and silicosis. This may be the result of an autoimmune disorder, an HIV infection, or people who are receiving immunosuppresive medications.Ĭertain clinical conditions may also alter the effectiveness of the results. Anyone who has an altered immune function fits into this category. Who Should Not Take the QuantiFERON-TB Gold Blood Test?īesides children, there are certain population groups that are not considered viable candidates for taking this blood test. Be sure to speak with your doctor about this TB test and if it could be right for you. This blood test eliminates the inconvenience.Īlthough the accuracy of this blood test is often better than the TST, it is not appropriate for some individuals. Individuals who have received a BCG vaccination in the recent past will not receive accurate TST results. The QuantiFERON-TB Gold blood test eliminates this effect completely.
After several skin tests, it is common for false positives to be read. The TST will eventually become an inaccurate measurement of a TB infection because of what is known as the “booster” effect. Instead of needing to visually judge a skin test, there is a set of baseline markers that test results can be compared against universally to determine if a TB infection is present.īecause the results of the blood test are measured universally, there is no local bias present in reading the results. There are some additional advantages that this blood test has over the TST as well. Only one visit is required for this blood test instead of multiple visits with the TST, which saves everyone time and money. The TST is still considered the standard for children. This blood test can measure active and latent TB infections, but only in adult patients. What Are the Advantages of the QuantiFERON-TB Gold Blood Test? A definitive screening test is needed for certain professions because of close human contact and that’s what this blood test can provide. Spread through droplets that come from the respiratory system, like with a sneeze, it can be spread from person to person quite easily. Even when it isn’t fatal, tuberculosis can cause a lung infection, spread to the kidneys, and even affect the brain. TB, when it isn’t treated right away, can become a fatal disease.
The QuantiFERON-TB Gold blood test takes some of the guesswork out of the tuberculosis screening process. The reaction to the TST is then judged by the care provider to determine if the result is positive, negative, or inconclusive. The tuberculin skin test is implanted just under the skin and then sits for a predetermined amount of time.
For many years, the best way to determine if someone may have an active tuberculosis infection was to use a skin test.