Diagnosing latent tuberculosis (TB) infection (LTBI) in dialysis patients is complicated by poor response to tuberculin skin testing (TST), but the role of interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) in the dialysis population remains uncertain. Seventy-nine patients were recruited to compare conventional diagnosis (CD) with the results of two IGRA tests in a dialysis unit. Combining TST, chest x-ray and screening questionnaire results (ie, CD) identified 24 patients as possible LTBI. IGRA testing identified 22 (QuantiFERON Gold IT, Cellestis, USA) and 23 (T-spot.TB, Oxford Immunotec, United Kingdom) LTBI patients. IGRA and CD correlated moderately (κ=0.59). IGRA results correlated with history of TB, TB contact and birth in an endemic country. TST was not helpful in identifying LTBI patients in this population. The tendency for IGRAs to correlate with risk factors for TB, active TB infection and history of TB argues for their superiority over TST in dialysis patients. There was no superiority of one IGRA test over another.

中文翻译：

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干扰素-γ 释放试验是血液透析患者更好的结核病筛查试验：一项研究和文献综述。

诊断透析患者的潜伏性结核病 (TB) 感染 (LTBI) 由于对结核菌素皮肤试验 (TST) 的反应不佳而变得复杂，但干扰素-γ 释放试验 (IGRA) 在透析人群中的作用仍不确定。招募了 79 名患者，以将传统诊断 (CD) 与透析单元中两次 IGRA 测试的结果进行比较。结合 TST、胸部 X 射线和筛查问卷结果（即 CD）确定 24 名患者可能为 LTBI。IGRA 测试确定了 22（QuantiFERON Gold IT，Cellestis，美国）和 23（T-spot.TB，Oxford Immunotec，英国）LTBI 患者。IGRA 和 CD 中度相关（κ=0.59）。IGRA 结果与结核病史、结核病接触史和在流行国家出生有关。TST 对识别该人群中的 LTBI 患者没有帮助。IGRAs 与 TB 风险因素、活动性 TB 感染和 TB 病史相关的趋势证明了它们在透析患者中​​优于 TST。一项 IGRA 测试并不优于另一项。