Comparison of a Whole-Blood Interferon γ Assay With Tuberculin Skin Testing for Detecting Latent <EMPH TYPE="ITAL">Mycobacterium tuberculosis</EMPH> Infection

Abstract

For all study participants, as well as for those being screened for LTBI, the IFN-gamma assay was comparable with the TST in its ability to detect LTBI, was less affected by BCG vaccination, discriminated responses due to nontuberculous mycobacteria, and avoided variability and subjectivity associated with placing and reading the TST.