Quantiferon TB Gold Test
Quantiferon TB Gold Test
- TB Gold test is meant to diagnose tuberculosis in any part of the body through blood sample.
- No special preparation is required for TB Gold Test
- TB Gold test would provide the result as positive or negative for tuberculosis.
What is Quantiferon TB Gold Test ?
Quantiferon-TB Gold Test (QFT) is a simple blood test that aids in the detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis.This is the bacteria which causes tuberculosis (TB). QFT is an interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) release assay, commonly known as an IGRA, and is a modern alternative to the tuberculin skin test (TST, PPD or Mantoux). Unlike the TST, TB Gold Test is a controlled laboratory test that requires only one patient visit and is unaffected by previous BCG vaccination.
QFT is highly specific and sensitive: a positive result is strongly predictive of true infection with Mycobacterium. tuberculosis. However, like the TST and other IGRAs, QFT cannot distinguish between active tuberculosis disease and latent tuberculosis infection, and is intended for use with risk assessment, radiography, and other medical and diagnostic evaluations. QFT must be used judiciously alongwith careful clinical assessment. At Maurya Labs, TB Gold Test is done at a cost of Rs. 3000.
Reported Parameters
TB GOLD, INTERFERON GAMMA RELEASE ASSAY (IGRA), PLASMA (EIA)
TB1 Antigen tube Minus Nil Tube IU/mL
TB2 Antigen tube Minus Nil Tube IU/mL
Mitogen tube Minus Nil Tube IU/mL
Nil tube IU/mL
Final Result
All The Questions that you might have
- How is TB Gold Test Done ?
- What are the various tests for TB ?
- How common is tuberculosis in India ?
- What is drug resistant TB ?
QFT uses unique blood collection tubes that enable immediate exposure of viable blood lymphocytes to highly specific TB antigens (ESAT-6/CFP-10/TB-7.7(p4)) and test controls coated on the inner surface of the tubes. Antigen exposure produces a quantifiable immune response to aid in the diagnosis of TB infection.
Nil tube
Negative control to adjust for background IFN-γ
TB Antigen tube
To detect the CD4+ T cell responses to TB antigens
Mitogen tube
Low response may indicate inability to generate IFN-γ
There are several tests for tuberculosis with each one having their advantages and disadvantages. Some of the tests which are routinely done to diagnose tuberculosis are :
- Mantoux Test
- TB PCR
- Quantiferon TB Gold
- X-Ray / CT Scan
- Sputum Test
Tuberculosis is a disease of the third world countries. India has made rapid progress on all fronts but unfortunately the number of tuberculosis patients in India is still very high. Almost 20% patients of tuberculosis in the world are Indians. Tuberculosis is an infection caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium and malnourished people are more prone to the disease. Till the 70;s tuberculosis was the biggest killer in the country. Even now TB results in the death of many people in the remote areas of the country where the system of early diagnosis is not in place. The government has a big programme called DOTS for the eradication of TB in the country.
TB is treatable and curable; however, people with TB can die if they do not get proper treatment. Sometimes drug-resistant TB occurs when bacteria become resistant to the drugs used to treat TB. This means that the drug can no longer kill the TB bacteria.
Drug-resistant TB can occur when the drugs used to treat TB are misused or mismanaged. Examples of misuse or mismanagement include
- People do not complete a full course of TB treatment
- Health care providers prescribe the wrong treatment (the wrong dose or length of time)
- Drugs for proper treatment are not available
- Drugs are of poor quality
Drug-resistant TB is more common in people who
- Do not take their TB drugs regularly
- Do not take all of their TB drugs
- Develop TB disease again, after being treated for TB disease in the past
- Come from areas of the world where drug-resistant TB is common
- Have spent time with someone known to have drug-resistant TB disease
