Recombinant in vitro test T-SPOT.TB as a screening method for early diagnosis of tuberculosis infection

Abstract

In addition to standard skin tests (Mantoux test with 2 TU PPD-L and diaskintest) for the diagnosis of tuberculosis infection, in vitro tests are used. One of these tests is T-SPOT.TB being more widely used in recent years.The objective: to evaluate the effectiveness of T-SPOT.TB test for early detection of tuberculosis infection in children and adolescents in Samara Region.Subjects and methods. From 2016 to 2019, results of T-SPOT.TB tests performed in 596 children aged 2 to 17 years inclusive were analyzed; those children had no immunodiagnosis of tuberculosis infection using skin tests since their parents refused to have it.Results. It was found out that the major reason for refusing skin tests was the “fear” of visiting a TB dispensary if the result had been positive — 38.43% (n = 229). The latent tuberculosis infection according to the results of T-SPOT.TB among children with concomitant pathology made 2.6%, among healthy children – 0.7%.Conclusion. T-SPOT.TB test may be used as an alternative method for diagnosis of tuberculosis infection, should the parent refuse to have skin tests. In children with concomitant pathology, T-SPOT.TB test can serve as a leading method for immunodiagnosis of tuberculosis.The authors state that they have no conflict of interests.