Comparison of Tuberculin Skin Test and Interferon Gamma Assay for the Diagnosis Latent Tuberculosis

摘要

Problem statement: After HIV infection, TB is the most common cause of mortality due to a single infectious agent. Until 1985, tuberculosis cases in the world were decreasing every year, but then with the prevalence of HIV infection, TB cases are increasing every year. Obviously, with this prevalence of tuberculosis, the best way to control it is to track the patient and identify the people with latent TB and treat them. One third of the world population is infected with latent tuberculosis micro bacterium and tuberculosis causes two million deaths a year. Identification of people with latent TB infection is the primary aim to eradicate TB in the community. The method to measure gamma interferon in the blood called QuantiFERON