Comparison of a new ESAT-6/CFP-10 peptide-based gamma interferon assay and a tuberculin skin test for tuberculosis screening in a moderate-risk population

Screening for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) with Mantoux tuberculin skin test (TST) has many limitations, including false-positive results due to exposure to Mycobacterium other than tuberculosis (TB) and BCG vaccination. A total of 474 adult inmates in a county jail were screened for LTBI using TST and a new ESAT-6/CFP-10 peptide-based whole-blood gamma interferon (IFN-γ) assay. LTBI prevalence was 9.0 and 5.4% as determined by TST and IFN-γ assay, respectively. Overall, agreement between test results was 90% (κ = 0.25). Positive TST results were significantly associated with increased age (odds ratio [OR], 1.04; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.01 to 1.08), African-American ethnicity (OR, 4.97; 95% CI, 1.58 to 15.68), foreign birth (OR, 20.20; 95% CI, 4.21 to 97.02) and prior incarceration (OR, 6.19; 95% CI, 1.48 to 25.95). Positive IFN-γ assay results were significantly associated with African-American ethnicity (OR, 5.58; 95% CI, 1.16 to 26.74). Factors associated with statistically significant discordance between TST and IFN-γ assay results were African-American ethnicity (OR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.11 to 0.77), foreign birth (OR, 0.23; 95% CI, 0.07-0.80), and prior incarceration (OR, 0.06; 95% CI, 0.01-0.50). Among subjects born in the United States, African-American ethnicity was the only variable significantly associated with positive test results for both TST (OR, 4.26; 95% CI, 1.38 to 13.16) and IFN-γ assay (OR, 5.74; 95% CI, 1.19 to 27.75) and remained associated with statistically significant discordance between TST and IFN-γ assay results. The reactivity of the new IFN-γ assay is unaffected by prior BCG vaccination or serial TSTs but may be diminished in African-Americans. Future longitudinal studies are needed to assess the sensitivity and specificity of this new assay in detecting LTBI.